Four killed as US drone strikes in North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: A US drone early Wednesday fired two missiles into a house in Pakistan's troubled northwestern tribal belt, killing four people, local security officials said.

Another four people were wounded in the attack which took place in Chashma village near Miranshah, the main town of lawless North
Waziristan district, a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants along the Afghan border.

"At least four people have been killed and four injured. US drones are still flying over the area even after the attack," a local security official in Miranshah told AFP, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media.

A second security official confirmed the attack and casualties but said the identity of the victims was yet not clear.

It was the first attack since historic May 11 general elections won by Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League.

Incoming prime minister Sharif, who is preparing to take power in the first week of June, has called the drone strikes a "challenge" to his country's sovereignty and said Washington must take Pakistani concerns seriously. (AFP)