At least six people were killed and seven were wounded in fresh US air strikes in Pakistani territory on Wednesday.
The US drones fired about four missiles that hit a religious seminary in Bagher Cheena village of South Waziristan tribal agency, security sources told KUNA.
They said the attack killed more than six persons and wounded about seven others. However, tribal sources claimed that more than ten persons including three women were killed in the air strike. Federal Defense Minister, Ahmed Mukhtar, talking to media said that US President George Bush had assured Pakistan to end such air strikes and that Islamabad is confidence of his assurance.
However, the Minister regretting fresh air strike said that a formal protest will be lodged in this regard. He said that such attacks can affect Pakistan-US bilateral relations.
The latest US air strike has been carried out while the US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen is in Pakistan on an unannounced visit. He held talks with his Pakistani counterpart and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani. During the meeting, he reiterated the US commitment to respect Pakistan's sovereignty and pledged continued support of his country to Pakistan.
The US air strikes have created resentment against the United States in Pakistan. The tribal elders two days after warning to launch retaliatory attacks on US military bases in Afghanistan on Wednesday formed a tribal Lashkar (force) that will revenge US air strikes.)