Four persons were killed and five others injured today in a missile strike by a suspected US drone in Pakistan's south Waziristan tribal region, a stronghold of the local Taliban [Images] led by Baitullah Mehsud.

Local residents and witnesses told Dawn News channel that at least three missiles were fired at the home of a tribesman named Ghazi Khan Mehsud in Tabargai area of South Waziritsan.

The witnesses said they had seen four bodies being pulled from the rubble of the house. They said they feared the toll could rise as a number of people were present in the house at the time of the attack. People kept away from Ghazi Khan Mehsud's house and did not immediately launch rescue operations as two drones were seen flying over the area even after the explosions occurred.

This was the first time suspected US drones have struck an area inhabited by the Mehsud tribe and under the control of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud. Today's attack was the latest in a series of missile strikes by US drones in Pakistan's troubled tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.