US does it again, drone attack kills 12 in Pakistan

Islamabad: At least 12 people were killed in a suspected US drone attack in Pakistan's restive tribal region Sunday, Geo TV reported.

Two back-to-back missiles were fired from a US drone that hit a house in Sararogha area of tribal district South Waziristan, the stronghold of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

"The missiles demolished the house of a local tribesman Botal Khan, who is a Taliban supporter," an intelligence official said on condition of anonymity.

At least a dozen of people were also injured in the attack.

Some of those killed are believed to be foreigners, a term used to refer to al-Qaeda linked fighters with Arabic or Central Asian origin, the official said, adding that dozens of Taliban militants rushed to the scene and sealed off the area following the attack.

In recent months, the US has carried out at least 30 drone attacks in the region known as a safe haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants to launch cross border attacks on international forces in Afghanistan.

Dozens of Taliban and al-Qaeda militants have been killed in the attacks, but Pakistan protested the strikes, saying these violated its sovereignty and fuelled public anger.