US urged to explain drone attacks in Pakistan

LONDON: The USA must disclose details of the legal and factual basis for the lethal use of drones in Pakistan, Amnesty International said Tuesday, after US President Barack Obama confirmed that the unmanned aircraft are used to target suspected militants in the country's tribal areas.

President Obama made the rare public acknowledgment on Monday during an hour-long online video chat with users of the social network Google+.

Amnesty International also called for the USA to monitor civilian casualties inflicted by drone attacks in Pakistan.

"The US authorities must give a detailed explanation of how these strikes are lawful and what is being done to monitor civilian casualties and ensure proper accountability, said Sam Zarifi Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific director.

"What are the rules of engagement? What proper legal justification exists for these attacks? While the President's confirmation of the use of drones in Pakistan is a welcome first step towards transparency, these and other questions need to be answered."

President Obama said that the drone strikes, which are carried out by the CIA rather than the military, were a "targeted focused effort at people who are on a list of active terrorists".