US missiles have killed 25 people in an al Qaida and Taliban sanctuary close to the Afghan border, Pakistan officials said, signalling American intent to press ahead with such attacks despite renewed protests by Islamabad.
And a well-known Pakistani politician said he and his followers would try to "blockade" Nato supplies which pass through Pakistan en route to Afghanistan over the weekend to protest against the strikes.
Some of the missile victims were militants loyal to Hafiz Gul Bahadar, a commander known to stage attacks against foreign troops in Afghanistan, but two women and five children were also killed, said the officials.
The US has been regularly firing missiles into the border region for two and a half years now, but does not formally acknowledge the CIA-run programme. US officials rarely comment on specific strikes, but have said in general terms that they accurately hit militants.
The officials said up to 10 missiles destroyed a compound in Spinwam village in North Waziristan, home to militants targeting American and Nato troops just across the border in Afghanistan, as well as to al Qaida terrorists.
The US is seeking Pakistan's co-operation in helping stabilise Afghanistan, but tensions between the two nations rose sharply this year after an American CIA contractor shot and killed two Pakistani men he said were trying to rob him.
A day after the contractor's release from prison in March, a missile strike which allegedly killed dozens of innocent tribesmen prompted a rare and strong protest by Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
General Kayani said the "drone strikes undermine our national effort against terrorism and turn public support against our efforts, which remains the key to success".
Pakistan's army and political leadership have always publicly condemned the missile attacks but are believed to have sanctioned them privately.
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