Suspected US drone strike kills four in Pakistan

Jan 12, 2012, 14:17 GMT

Islamabad - At least four people were killed Thursday in a suspected US drone attack in Pakistan's north-western tribal region along the Afghan border, a security official said.

The strike occurred in the New Ada area of Doga Madakhel region in North Waziristan, one of seven tribal districts and a hotspot of al-Qaeda-linked Taliban militants.

A security official said that two missiles were fired at a vehicle suspected to be driven by alleged militants.

'According to our information, at least four people traveling in the vehicle were killed,' the official said, on the condition of anonymity.

The number and identity of those killed could not be confirmed through independent sources, as the areas are inaccessible to media.

It was the second attack in as many days after the US resumed the drone attacks, following a break of about six weeks due to tension with Pakistan after 24 soldiers were killed by a NATO airstrike upon a Pakistani border post.

Four people were killed on Wednesday when unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a compound in the Goora Qabristan area of North Waziristan.

Pakistan forced the US to cease operations from the Shamsi airbase in south-western Pakistan, from where the drone operations were launched, in retaliation for the deaths of the soldiers.

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