US drone strike kills five in Pakistan

19 Aug 2012, 8:56 pm   -   Source: AAP

A US drone strike in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border, has killed at least five people.

At least five people have been killed in a suspected United States drone strike in Pakistan's troubled northwestern tribal region along the Afghan border.

The attack was carried out in the Manna area of North Waziristan against militants of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a powerful warlord linked to al-Qaeda.

A security official said that several missiles were fired at two vehicles carrying supporters of Bahadur.

"At least five people were in the two vehicles and all of them were killed," the official said on condition of anonymity.

North Waziristan is controlled by rebels of the Bahadur and Haqqani groups.

Both groups are believed to be involved in cross-border raids on NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has refused to take action against them despite demands from the US, prompting Washington to step up drone attacks.

It was the second such attack in two days, after at least five people were killed on Saturday when drones targeted a compound in the Shawal area of the district.

Pakistan has opposed such drone attacks as violations of its sovereignty.

"Pakistan has consistently maintained that these attacks are a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are in contravention of international law," the foreign ministry said in a statement after Saturday's attack.

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