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U.S missile strike in Pakistan's tribal region kills 12:witnesses

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Nov 14, IRNA
Pakistan-Missile Strike
At least 12 people - several of whom appeared to be foreigners, were killed in Pakistan's Waziristan tribal region in an overnight U.S missile strike, witnesses said Friday.

The U.S drones regularly fire missiles which it says aimed at targeting suspected al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal regions espite strong protest by Pakistani government.

The fresh attack comes at a time when General David McKiernan, Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan is in Islamabad to cool down the anger of Pakistani government and opposition parties over the U.S strikes.

There was no official word on the fresh attack.

Local TV channels also reported that at least four missiles were fired at a house in the area between South and North Waziristan late Thursday night, killing at least 12 people.

Pakistani officials say that U.S has carried out 19 missile attacks in the tribal regions since August.

They say that mostly civilians are killed in such attacks.

Locals said that missiles hit house of a local tribesman Ameer Gul at a village 'Waladeen Budar', located between North and South Waziristan, near the Afghan border.

A local journalist Naseer Mehsood said that 9 Arab militants among those killed in the attack.

Local authorities in North Waziristan say five foreigners were killed.

Pakistani President and Prime Minister describe U.S missiles as violation of the country's sovereignty but the U.S is not impressed by this notion.

They say that the missiles strikes have badly affected the civilian government's efforts against militancy.

A recent U.S report said that the U.S. administration had allowed such attacks in 2004 with the approval of President Bush.

U.S. forces are officially barred from operating on Pakistani soil, but news media have reported that intelligence officials in both countries acknowledge there is a secret arrangement permitting U.S.

missile strikes against al-Qaeda targets in the tribal regions.

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