Pakistani Officials: 5 Killed in US Drone Strike
VOA News 26 December 2009
Pakistani security officials say five people have been killed in a U.S. drone attack on a suspected militant target in Pakistan's northwest tribal region.
The officials say missiles hit a house Saturday in the North Waziristan tribal district near Afghanistan. They say two people were wounded.
It is not clear if the casualties were militants.
Many Taliban gunmen and other militants battling U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan are based in North Waziristan.
Meanwhile, Pakistani officials say militants have assassinated a tribal leader who commanded a village militia fighting Taliban militants in North Waziristan.
The officials say Gul Mohammad's beheaded body was found on a roadside in the Bajaur district. Taliban militants often attack tribal leaders considered to be pro-government in efforts to gain control in northwest Pakistan.
Pakistan has been under pressure from the United States to crack down on militants in the tribal regions. But that has not stopped the attacks.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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