NATO helicopter strike wounds two Pak soldiers

MIRANSHAH: NATO helicopters from Afghanistan wounded two Pakistani soldiers in a cross-border attack Tuesday, officials said, triggering a "strong protest" from Islamabad as tensions with the US simmered after Osama bin Laden's death.

The two choppers opened fire in the direction of a restive tribal region in Pakistan's northwest after they were shot at, a Western military official in Kabul said, amid conflicting reports of the incident.

Pakistan's military said its troops fired on the helicopters after they violated Pakistan airspace.

The incident occurred just one day after US Senator John Kerry attempted to soothe a row with Pakistan's military and civilian leadership about the May 2 raid that killed bin Laden north of Islamabad.

The helicopter attack took place in Wacha Bibi, 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, officials said. (AFP)