US drone attack claims 15 lives in Pakistan

At least 15 people have been killed in Pakistan in the latest US drone attacks that picked up pace after seven CIA agents were killed in late December.

The Sunday attack has reportedly targeted a militant compound in an area near Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal region. However, the identity of those killed in the air raid has not been confirmed.

The number of CIA-operated drone strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has increased after a Jordanian double agent crossed into Afghanistan from the tribal lands and struck a US intelligence center in late 2009.

Over the weekend, eleven people were killed in two drone attacks in northwestern Pakistan.

The US has carried out dozens of missile strikes in northwestern Pakistan over the past twelve months. Washington claims it is targeting militants.

But reports say the attacks have repeatedly killed civilians. Last week, Pakistani officials warned US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke that the US drone attacks could endanger ties.

There have been nationwide rallies in Pakistan against high civilian casualties inflicted by the US operations.

Pakistan Islami Jamiat-e Talaba staged an anti-American rally on Saturday to show strong resentment at US drone attacks in the country.

Demonstrators demanded that the government take a strong stand against the US presence in the country.