Ishtiaq Mahsud, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan - Pakistani officials say missiles destroyed a suspected militant hideout near the Afghan border on Wednesday, killing at least five people.

Four intelligence officials told The Associated Press the missiles destroyed a compound near Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal region.

Initial reports from the area indicated between five and 10 people were killed and several others wounded.

No details about the identity of the victims were given.

Two of the officials said foreign militants were known to frequent the compound in the village of Zari Noor.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack. However, U.S. forces operate aircraft armed with missiles along the rugged Afghan-Pakistani border.

Pakistan army spokesman Maj.-Gen. Athar Abbas confirmed there was an explosion near Wana, but said he could not give any details until the army had investigated.

Waliur Rehman, a shopkeeper in Wana, said he heard the familiar sound of a drone at about 7:30 p.m. followed by two explosions.

"The planes are still in the air. People are scared and are staying indoors," Rehman told the AP by telephone.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said he had no information on the incident.

Pakistan's tribal regions such as South Waziristan are believed to provide sanctuary to pro-Taliban insurgents fighting in Afghanistan as well as members of al-Qaida.

Last week, a suspected U.S. missile strike on a militant training camp in another area of South Waziristan killed at least nine people, including foreigners, Pakistani officials said.

Similar strikes have killed at least two senior al-Qaida militants inside Pakistan this year, including an Egyptian explosives and poisons expert, Abu Khabab al-Masri, who died in a strike in late July.