Missile strike kills 12 at Taliban training camp

Suspected US missiles struck a training camp run by Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud today, killing at least 12 militants in the latest in a flurry of strikes against him and his followers, intelligence officials said.

The attack took place in the Makeen area of South Waziristan close to the Afghan border. The missiles were believed to have been launched by unmanned American planes.

“Our initial reports from agents in the field say at least 12 to 14 Taliban have died in today’s American missile attack,” said one official, adding several militants were also wounded. Mr Mehsud was not understood to be among the victims.

The US has launched more than 40 missile strikes against targets in the border area since last August.

Today’s was the fourth in two weeks against Mr Mehsud and his followers in his stronghold of South Waziristan.

Pakistan’s army is deploying troops in South Waziristan and launching regular air strikes of its own to try and kill or capture the man blamed for organising many of the bloodiest suicide attacks in Pakistan over the last few years.