US drone strike kills 2 in Pakistan

A US drone targeted a compound in the restive North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least two persons, security officials said. The CIA-operated spy plane targeted a compound in Muhammad Khel village in Datta Khel area, which has witnessed numerous drone strikes. US officials describe North Waziristan Agency as a safe haven for Taliban and al-Qaida elements. The compound was destroyed when the drone fired two missiles at it, security officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels. Two persons were killed in the attack. Local residents gathered in the area and began removing the debris. The US has persisted with its drone campaign in the tribal belt despite Pakistan describing the attacks as counter-productive and a violation of its sovereignty. This was the first drone strike in March. US officials recently denied reports that the CIA had carried out two strikes in February while the Pakistan Army rejected suggestions that it had tried to pass off two attacks on militants in the tribal areas as US drone strikes. In January, over 40 militants were killed in drone strikes in North and South Waziristan.