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Pakistan Lodges Official Protests Against Drone Strikes

June 05, 2012

Pakistan has summoned a senior U.S. diplomat and lodged a protest over drone strikes on its northwestern tribal areas.

Pakistan's Foreign Office said Richard Hoagland, the U.S. charge d'affaires, was "officially conveyed the government's serious concern regarding drone strikes in Pakistani territory."

Islamabad calls the strikes "unlawful, against international law, and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty."

The protest came after reports emerged that a senior Al-Qaeda figure was the target of a U.S. drone strike in western North Waziristan region on June 4.

Pakistani officials kept silent on whether Abu Yahya al-Libi was among the 15 people killed in the strike.

Libi, described by American officials as Al-Qaeda's second in command, is a Libyan citizen with a $1 million reward on his head.

With reporting by AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-drone-strikes/24604628.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.