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'US strike' kills 25 in Pakistan | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
At least 25 people have been killed in a suspected US missile attack in north-west Pakistan, officials say. | |
The missile strike hit a house in the South Waziristan area, near the Afghan border, which officials said was used as a hide-out for Taleban militants. | |
The Taleban confirmed 25 militants were killed in the attack. The US has not confirmed it launched the strike. | |
The US has carried out more than 20 air strikes from drones in north-western Pakistan in recent months. | The US has carried out more than 20 air strikes from drones in north-western Pakistan in recent months. |
Islamabad has long argued that such attacks complicate its own fight against insurgents, and say the strikes violate its sovereignty. | |
Pakistani leaders had expressed hope that the new US administration of Barack Obama would halt the controversial manoeuvres. | |
But earlier this week Mr Obama said there was no doubt militants were operating in safe havens in Pakistan's tribal belt and that the US would make sure Pakistan was a strong ally in fighting that threat. | |
Wanted militant | |
The latest suspected drone attack took place on Saturday morning in a village near the town of Ladha. | |
A house owned by a local clan member was struck by two missiles. | |
Witnesses in the area say the rockets were fired from a drone and say the house was frequented by militants from to Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud's organisation. | |
The BBC's Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad, says Mehsud is one of the most wanted men in the region. | |
Our correspondent says Mehsud is believed to be responsible for a number of atrocities, including the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. |