Missile strike in Pakistan kills children and women

PAKISTAN: Three children and two women were killed when missiles fired by a suspected unmanned US aircraft hit a Pakistani tribal village Friday in the third such attack in as many days, officials said.

The strike hit two houses belonging to tribesmen in North Waziristan’s Goorweck Baipali village, 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of the main town of Miranshah, and located right on the border with Afghanistan, they said.

“Three children and two women have been killed in the missile strike, which destroyed two village homes,” an official said, adding that one woman was injured.

“We suspect that the missiles were fired by forces across the border,” the official added. Residents said two pilotless aircraft fired three missiles.

The White House declined to comment directly on the claim of US involvement from across the border in Afghanistan in recent days.

“We respect their sovereignty and we support their new civilian government,” spokeswoman Dana Perino said of Pakistan, adding that US President George W. Bush “grieves any time there is a loss of innocent life.”

Around 3,000 Pakistani tribesmen chanted “Allahu akbar” and “death to America” in South Waziristan’s Wana district after Friday prayers to protest at Wednesday’s claimed US-led raid, which involved helicopter gunships and ground troops.

MIRANSHAH, Friday, AFP