The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Miranshah

Suspected US missiles killed five militants in Pakistan's Al-Qaeda-infested tribal belt on Thursday, not far from where 30,000 troops are battling a major offensive against homegrown Taliban.

The attack, which Pakistani officials said was carried out by a US drone, targeted a house in North Waziristan, where Washington says Islamist militants fighting 100,000 US and NATO troops in Afghanistan are hiding.

"It was a US drone attack which targeted a compound of a local tribesman, Musharraf Gul, in Norak village," a senior security official told AFP. Two missiles were fired from a US drone at 1:30 am (2030 GMT Wednesday).

Another security official confirmed the attack and said "Taliban rebels were using the compound. Five militants were killed and four others wounded."

"It is not clear if there was any high-value target," the official said, adding: "We also do not know yet the identity of the militants."

Local residents and security officials said Musharraf Gul, aged between 28 and 30, was a cab driver who had fraternised with militants for more than 18 months.