15 Feb 2009

Taliban fighters killed by missile strike

6:06 am on 15 February 2009

The Taliban says at least 25 fighters were killed in a US missile attack in north-west Pakistan on Saturday.

The missile hit a house in the South Waziristan area, near the Afghan border.

The Taliban confirmed 25 fighters were killed. An official said they were in training there when the missiles hit.

Waziristan is the power base of Baituallah Mehsud, leader of the Pakistan Taliban, who is accused of involvement in the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007.

The United States has carried out more than 20 air strikes from drones in north-western Pakistan in recent months.