Pakistani intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. missile strike
has killed at least 20 people, including several suspected foreign
militants, along the Afghan border.
Local villagers Saturday
began burying the dead from Friday's attack on a home in the village of
Mohammed Khel, in the North Waziristan tribal region.
The
Pakistani officials say an unmanned aircraft launched a missile that
hit the home of an Afghan. Officials say many of the dead were Arabs
and that they had no information whether any senior militant leaders
were killed.
Pakistan's army spokesman, Major-General Athar
Abbas, told VOA Saturday that details of the missile attack were still
coming and that it was too early to say whether any foreigners were
killed in the attack. Abbas also denied reports of a separate attack
in North Waziristan Friday, saying international troops were carrying
out an operation across the border, in Afghanistan.
Pakistan
objects to cross-border attacks and is conducting its own offensive
against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban militants in its northwestern
Bajaur tribal region.
In some parts of Pakistan's northwest, tribal leaders are taking their own action against militants.
Today,
a tribal council (jirga) in the Mamound area of Bajaur decided to
form a local tribal militia (lashkar) to fight insurgents.
Residents say the group immediately began setting fire to homes
belonging to suspected militants.
Local tribesman also said the
government had re-established control of several parts of Bajaur, amid
the ongoing military operation there.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
News
