6 Taliban militants killed in drone strikes in northwest Pakistan

After a relative lull in missile strikes by CIA-operated drones, the unmanned planes today targeted a militant compound in the restive South Waziristan tribal region of northwest Pakistan, killing six suspected Taliban militants, official sources said.

The drones fired five missiles at the compound in Gharr village in Angoor Adda area near the border with Afghanistan.

Seven militants were injured in the attack, the sources said, adding the dead were believed to be local militants.

A vehicle and a motorcycle were destroyed in the attack.

Pakistan had earlier registered an angry protest to the US after drones targeted what Pakistani officials said was a tribal 'jirga' (council meeting) in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan Agency on March 17.

Over 40 people were killed and scores injured in that attack.

In a rare criticism of US drone attacks, Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani strongly condemned the strikes and said the unmanned spy planes had "carelessly and callously targeted" a 'jirga' of peaceful citizens.