Pakistani officials: US missiles kill 4 in vehicle

[November 19, 2010]  MIR ALI, Pakistan (AP) -- Suspected U.S. missiles destroyed a moving vehicle near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan on Friday, killing four alleged militants inside it, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The attack by unmanned drones near Marsi Khel village in North Waziristan is the second in a week as the U.S. intensifies its search-and-destroy missions in the strongholds of Taliban and al-Qaida-linked fighters.

The aircraft fired two missiles at the vehicle Friday afternoon, according to two Pakistani intelligence officials.

The identity of those killed was not immediately known but they were suspected to be militants, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

The U.S. has launched more than 100 missile strikes in Pakistan so far this year, a major surge over previous years for the drone program that is rarely officially acknowledged by Washington.

Nearly all have hit in North Waziristan, where Muslim extremists run a virtual mini-state outside the Pakistani government's control.

[Associated Press; By RASOOL DAWAR]

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