19 militants killed in drone attacks in Pakistan

US drones carried out four strikes in Pakistan's restive tribal belt today, killing 19 militants and injuring several more in the first such attacks of the new year, officials said.

In the first strike, drones targeted a vehicle in Spin Wam area of North Waziristan Agency.

The unmanned spy planes fired four missiles at the vehicle, killing at least five Taliban fighters and injuring several others.

A Predator drone fired two missiles at a suspected militant hideout at Ghoresta area of Spin Wam sub-division in the second strike, killing six militants.

The third strike targeted persons who were removing bodies and the injured at the site of the first attack in Spin Wam. At least four militants were killed in this attack, officials said.

Four more militants were killed when another vehicle was targeted in the fourth strike in Degan area of Boya sub-division.

Independent sources said four foreign fighters were among the dead. North Waziristan is considered a stronghold of warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani, whose men fight foreign troops across the border in Afghanistan from bases in the region.

There were a total of 113 drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal belt last year, including 69 in North Waziristan.

The missile strikes were almost doubled last year and over 650 people were killed in the attacks.