US missile strike kills 27 in Pakistan

Source: Agencies | February 15, 2009, Sunday |

Print Edition

AN AMERICAN missile strike killed at least 27 militants linked to al-Qaida in Pakistan's SouthWaziristan region yesterday, a senior Taliban official said.

The strike by pilotless drones was the third since United States President Barack Obama took office last month and could ignite fresh public anger in Pakistan over the cross-border raids from Afghanistan.

The Taliban official said those killed were mostly Uzbek fighters.

"Our people have informed us that at least 27 people were killed," the official told Reuters. "It could be more."

Missiles hit a sprawling house used by the militants as a training camp in the Zangari area in the South Waziristan region.

"Around 50 to 60 mujahideen have been living there for about a week," the Taliban official said. "All of them were Uzbeks."

Intelligence officials confirmed the incident.

Waziristan is the power base of Baituallah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban and an al-Qaida ally who is also accused of involvement in the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007.

Frustrated over what it sees as Pakistan's failure to stem the flow of al-Qaida and Taliban militants from its lawless tribal regions into Afghanistan, the US stepped up cross-border attacks last year.

US drones carried out about 30 missile attacks on suspected militants last year, according to a Reuters tally, more than half since September.

The attacks killed more than 220 people, including foreign militants, according to a tally of reports from Pakistani intelligence agents, district government officials and residents.

Pakistan does not officially confirm the strikes but has said they violate the country's sovereignty and increase resentment toward the Pakistani government and the US.

World

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US missile strike kills 27 in Pakistan

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