US drone strike kills eight in Pakistan

A US drone attack targeting a militant compound killed eight insurgents in a troubled Pakistani tribal region, according to security officials.

Two missiles hit the compound located in Tappi, 10 kilometres (six miles) southeast of Miranshah, the main town in volatile North Waziristan near the Afghan border, on Wednesday, a military official in Peshawar said.

"Eight militants were killed and two wounded," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

"Militants have surrounded the compound and are removing the dead bodies."

US officials say Pakistan's tribal belt provides sanctuary to Taliban fighting for 10 years in Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda groups plotting attacks on the West, and Pakistani Taliban.

But the missile strikes fuel widespread anti-American resentment, which is running especially high in Pakistan since US air strikes inadvertently killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.