24 Oct 2008

School in north-west Pakistan hit by missiles

8:43 am on 24 October 2008

At least eight students have been killed by a missile strike at a religious school in north-western Pakistan.

Witnesses told the BBC Urdu Service the school, in North Waziristan, is close to the residence of a fugitive Taliban leader, Jalaluddin Haqqani.

At least two missiles, reportedly fired by pilotless US drones, hit the school early on Thursday. Nearly half the building was destroyed.

The Pakistani army is investigating the incident. The United States military has made no comment.

Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters use North Waziristan and other tribal areas to launch attacks in Afghanistan.

Foreign fighters from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and the Middle East are all thought to be based there.

Earlier in October a suspected pilotless American drone fired missiles in North Waziristan, killing at least six people.

Tensions between the US and Pakistan have increased over the issue of cross-border incursions by American forces based in Afghanistan.