US drone strike kills 5 in northwestern Pakistan

At least five people have been killed in an attack by a US assassination drone in northwestern Pakistan.

The casualties come after two missiles hit a convoy of people in the Shawal area of North Waziristan Sunday evening.

Local security officials say several people were also severely injured in the fatal attack, which sent shock waves across the troubled region.

The latest attack come as Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has recently blasted US assassination drone strikes in his country, describing them as a violation of international law and the UN charter.

Islamabad has repeatedly condemned the attacks, saying they violate Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Washington claims that the airstrikes target militants, but reports on the ground show that civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.

US President Barack Obama recently defended the use of the controversial drones as “self-defense.”

The aerial attacks, initiated by former US president George W. Bush, have been escalated under President Obama government.

The United Nations and several human rights organizations have already identified the US as the world’s number one user of “targeted killings” largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The United Nations says the US-operated drone strikes in Pakistan pose a growing challenge to the international rule of law.

Philip Alston, UN special envoy on extrajudicial killings, said in a report in late October 2010 that the attacks were undermining the rules designed to protect the right of life.

Alston went on to say that he fears the drone killings by the US Central Intelligence Agency could develop a “play station” mentality.