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Foreigners killed in drone strike in South Waziristan

* Missiles target two vehicles in Makeen stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud; 8 suspected Taliban, Qaeda operatives killed

LADAH: A suspected US missile attack killed eight suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives including several foreigners in a stronghold of Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud on Wednesday, local residents and officials said.

The strike destroyed two vehicles near Makeen, a town in South Waziristan, locals told Daily Times.

Citing informants and intercepted communications, intelligence officials told the Associated Press four of the dead were foreigners. Three local men were injured, they said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly to the media.

Reporters cannot verify reports from the area because authorities and the Taliban limit access.

Initial reports said no high-value targets were believed to have died. Taliban quickly sealed off the scene to local residents who came to retrieve the bodies, a witness told AFP.

Makeen is the base of Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

There was no immediate indication that he was in either of the vehicles targeted on Wednesday.

American forces have carried out scores of missile attacks on Al Qaeda and Taliban targets in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas since last year, despite official protests from Islamabad.

US officials say the strikes have killed a string of Al Qaeda leaders and put the organisation on the defensive. The Pakistani government argues that the tactic is counterproductive because it kills civilians, stokes anti-American feeling and undermines its own efforts to isolate extremists. noor alam/agencies

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