Tearful tribesmen bury more bodies US strikes in Waziristan leaves 14 dead Monitoring Desk

Miranshah: American drone has killed 13 in an attack in the northern Waziristan early on Friday morning, officials said. The attack was carried out at a house in Janikhel area of the region, said an officials. Maulvi Abdullah, a regional Taliban militant has also confirmed to Pajhwok News Agency that at least 13 fighters in the early morning attack. Militants have rented the house for training their fellows, the self proclaimed militant said. Bombing by American pilotless drone in the tribal region bordering the neighbouring Afghanistan has increased despite the disagreement of Pakistani authorities. Four missiles were fired at the camp, in Kumsham village, some 35 kilometres south of Miranshah in North Waziristan province. Security sources said the village is dominated by Wazir tribes and is near the border with South Waziristan. "Between 11 to 14 militants, mainly foreigners, were killed in the strike," a senior military official told media on condition of anonymity. Local official Attiq-ur Rehman also confirmed the strike but gave a different death toll. "There was a missile strike in the Kumsham village and it destroyed a compound, 13 people were killed," he said. An intelligence official added: "The strike successfully destroyed the camp." "The militants were using the facility for training," another said. Maulvi Abdullah, a regional Taliban militant has also confirmed killing of 13 fighters in the early morning attack. Militants have rented the house for training their fellows, the self proclaimed militant said. Bombing by American pilotless drones in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan has increased despite the disagreement of Pakistani authorities. Meanwhile, sixteen militants were killed on Friday as PAF planes bombarded several suspected Taliban hideouts in a restive northwest tribal region, officials said. Jets pounded the towns of Damadola, Sewai and Sipra in Bajaur district where forces have clashed with Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants for the past three months, local administration official Jamil Khan told media. Another security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 16 Taliban militants were killed. The toll may rise as the jets repeatedly bombed the suspected bases, he added. Fourteen people were killed in air strikes in Bajaur on Thursday and 15 extremists died in similar raids on Wednesday, according to local officials. Security officials said the bombing campaign has been stepped up as land forces were planning a ground offensive in these towns where militants are said to have underground bunkers. In another tragic incident, the unidentified armed men fired three missiles at an army camp in Wana from nearby mountains on Friday. Security forces retaliated with automatic and heavy weapons. The firing between the security forces and the militants continued for an hour, however no report of loss of life has been received so far. Political administration while confirming the incident said that investigation is in progress. In Swat, the security forces are continuing operation against the militants and sporadic firing is still going on. The administration has imposed an indefinite curfew in the area. The people are leaving the homes in Matta tehsil, Kabal and Chahar Bagh. Ttwo tribesmen sustained critical injuries when one of them hit a landmine at Shahshu village in Lower Kurram Agency on Friday. An official of political administration said that Sultan Khan and Zahoor were coming from fields as one of them laid foot on roadside landmine. Resultantly, both sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital. President Asif Ali Zardari while condemning the missile attack in North Waziristan expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of life. In North Waziristan on Friday, at least ten people were killed and five others injured in the US spy planes missiles attack in Qamasham area of Razmak Tehsil. The missiles also destroyed two houses whereas all the dead and injured were local people. Saturday, November 08, 2008,  Zi'qad 09, 1429 A.H.