Five killed in missile strike in Pak tribal region

ISLAMABAD: Five persons, including foreign militants, were killed and six injured in a missile strike in Pakistan's restive North Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday.

Two missiles were fired at a house in the Khushali Torikhel area near Mir Ali town at around midnight, TV channels reported. Among the five persons who died were foreign militants, the reports said.

The drone, believed to be operated by US forces in Afghanistan, carried out the attack shortly after some persons in a house fired at the unmanned aircraft while it was hovering over a village.

In a separate incident, two persons were killed in a bomb blast in a market in the Khyber Agency. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The blast created tension in the area. The local political administration cordoned off the site of the blast and started a probe.

The Pakistan government has stepped up security across the country for the Eid-ul-Fitr festival, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. Thousands of police, paramilitary and army personnel have been deployed in the federal capital and other cities to prevent terrorist attacks.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and members of his cabinet offered Eid prayers at the Faisal Mosque in the federal capital amid tight security.

President Asif Ali Zardari offered prayers along with his staff at the mosque within the heavily guarded presidential palace. Large contingent of security personnel were seen in markets and mosque across the capital.