US drone strikes kill 12 in Pakistan

24 Aug 2012, 6:43 pm   -   Source: AAP

Three US drone strikes in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border, have killed at least 12 people.

At least 12 people have been killed when suspected United States drones dropped missiles on three areas in northwestern Pakistan on Friday.

"Five people were killed in the attack on Makki Ghar area, four in Andara and three in Darai Nishtar," in Shawal valley of North Waziristan, an official said.

The region is thought to harbour several militant bases of the Haqqani network and Hafiz Gul Bahadar group, who launch raids across the border on national and international troops in Afghanistan.

The identities of those killed was not known, the official said.

The strike came a day after Pakistan summoned a US diplomat to lodge a formal protest about the recent drone attacks, which it called "unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty", a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Pakistan has also said the attacks bolster anti-US sentiment.

Washington insists they are necessary to target rebels in the lawless region, considered largely beyond the effective control of the Pakistani security forces.

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