US drone strike kills four suspected militants

The strike set the house on fire. Two people were reportedly injured.

MIRANSHAH: A US drone launched a missile attack on a suspected militant compound in North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border early Friday, killing four alleged insurgents, security officials said.

The missiles targeted a house in a market area of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan.

"Two missiles hit a house and four militants were killed," a security official told AFP. "The attack took place at about 3:00 am," he said.

Witnesses said the attack triggered a fire and the building was destroyed. The compound is located in the money changers market in the Miranshah commercial district.

An intelligence official also put the toll at four dead and said there were two wounded.

He said local people including Pakistani Taliban were engaged in rescue work.

Pakistan and the US have been deadlocked over the latter’s controversial drone programme. Pakistan has asked the US to shut down strikes which pick out targets in Pakistan’s territory. In a parliamentary review underway, it is expected that lawmakers would ask US to stop its programme which has in particular angered the Pakistani public.