Zawahri missed dinner that prompted US strike

ISLAMABAD: A dinner invitation to al-Qaeda's second-in-command triggered a US airstrike in Pakistan but Ayman al-Zawahri failed to show up, Pakistani intelligence officials said on Sunday.   

Pakistan condemned Friday's strike, which killed at least 18 people, including women and children, and summoned US ambassador Ryan Crocker to protest.

There were anti-American demonstrations in several towns and cities on Sunday, and supporters of Islamist and secular parties mustered close to 10,000 people for a rally in Karachi.

Pakistani intelligence officials said they were checking reports up to seven foreign militants had been killed and their bodies removed by local supporters. But they said there were no indications Osama bin Laden's deputy, Zawahri, was there.

"He was invited for the dinner, but we have no evidence he was present," a senior intelligence official said.

Al-Arabiya television quoted a source it said had contact with al-Qaeda saying Zawahri was alive.    The US government has not commented, but US sources familiar with the operation said it was too early to determine his fate and the remains of the dead would have to be examined.   

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the airstrike was based on 'very good' intelligence indicating Zawahri was at the targeted location.