[10/March/2010]

ISLAMABAD, March 10 (Saba) -- The death toll in US missile strikes increased to 15 as unmanned aircraft fired four more missiles, while a large number of people had gathered to rescue the victims, said officials, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

A total of seven missiles were fired at a suspected militant compound, a vehicle and a gathering of tribal people in Dattakhel district of North Waziristan tribal agency.

Security officials told KUNA that predator drones fired four more missiles when a large number of people had gathered to rescue the victims. They said the death toll has increased to 15 while a large number of people were wounded.

However, tribal sources claimed the death toll to be more than 15 and said that a dozen others were critically wounded. Security officials said that in the first series of aerial strikes, at least three foreigners of Arab origin were among the killed and wounded.

The latest strikes coincided with a two-day visit to Islamabad by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Saba