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9 Killed in NW Pakistan Roadside Blast

   VOA News 09 September 2010

   Pakistani  officials  say  a  roadside  bomb  has killed at least nine
   people after detonating in the restive northwest tribal region.
   Authorities  say  the victims were traveling in passenger van Thursday
   in  a  remote  village  within  the  Kurram tribal district when their
   vehicle hit the buried explosive. Four others were wounded.
   In  neighboring North Waziristan, a suspected U.S. drone strike killed
   at  least  five  militants  in  the  fourth attack in the region in 24
   hours.
   Security officials say the strike targeted a compound on the outskirts
   of Miran Shah, the region's main town.
   Three  separate  drone  attacks also took place in North Waziristan on
   Wednesday, killing at least 18 alleged militants.
   The   tribal  region  is  considered  a  stronghold  for  Taliban  and
   al-Qaida-linked  militants  accused  of  planning  and staging attacks
   against NATO troops across the border in Afghanistan.
   Although  U.S.  officials  do not publicly confirm drone strikes, they
   have said privately that many key militant leaders have been killed.
   Under   U.S.  pressure,  Pakistan  has  also  increased  its  military
   operations  against  militants  in  the  lawless  tribal  area,  where
   insurgents have largely avoided direct government control.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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