Deaths in US Drone Attack in Pakistan

A US drone attack in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt killed 25 people, including women and children on Friday amid a souring relation between Pakistan and the US.

Four missiles were fired on a large compound occupied by supporters of local militant commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, in Spinwam which lies 40km (25 miles) north-east of North Waziristan town of Miranshah, officials said.

The missiles targeted a compound in the Spinwam town led to the death of five women and four children in a house adjacent to the compound.

North Waziristan is believed to be a hive to militants linked to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

The United States has refused to confirm it launched the attacks, but officials believe that only the US troops can operate such modern technology in the region.

The drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal regions are said to be a success in the fight against insurgents targeting Afghan and foreign troops.

A huge number of insurgent leaders have been killed so far in the US drone attacks that could increase the chances of removing militants from the region.

The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen in a recent trip to Pakistan accused the country's spy organisation of having links with militants attacking US troops in Afghanistan, something denied by officials in Islamabad.