Suspected US missiles hit Pakistan

Suspected US drones fired missiles into a Pakistan border region yesterday killing 13 militants, including five foreigners, officials said, the latest in a series of strikes that has infuriated Pakistan.

There have been nearly 20 attacks by suspected missile-firing pilotless US drones since the beginning of September, but yesterday's was the first after this week's US Presidential election.

Pakistan objects to the strikes as not only violations of its sovereignty but counter-productive to its efforts against militants behind surging violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A senior government official in the region, Latif-ur-Rehman, said the missiles hit a militant compound in the Kamsham area of north Waziristan.

"It was an accurate strike and the compound has been destroyed," said Mr Rehman.

At least 13 militants were killed, another senior government official and an intelligence agency official said.

"It's remote so information is coming slowly but we can confirm that four missiles killed eight Pakistani Taliban and five guests," said the intelligence official, referring to foreign militants.

There was no information about the nationality of any of those killed but north Waziristan is known as a sanctuary for Taliban and al Qaeda militants.

US forces have stepped up attacks on militants in Pakistan in response to concern about worsening security in Afghanistan.

Scores of people have been killed in missile strikes and a September 3 cross-border commando raid, but no top al Qaeda or Taliban leaders have been reported to have died.

Nuclear-armed US ally Pakistan is also battling militants on its side of the border but says cross-border US strikes undermine efforts to isolate the militants and rally public opinion behind the unpopular campaign against them. The US has shrugged off Pakistani protests. It says the attacks protect US troops in Afghanistan.

Pakistan hopes the new US administration will be more sensitive to its concerns, although President-elect Barack Obama made comments in his campaign suggesting he would take a hawkish approach towards the border area militants.