Up to 15 Taliban killed by missile attack in Pakistan

Up to 15 Taliban died and several were injured overnight in a US missile strike in Pakistan's tribal region and clashes with troops in the neighbouring south-western province of Balochistan, officials said Saturday.

A US military drone fired two missiles late Friday on a Taliban communication centre in the South Waziristan tribal district, a stronghold of top militant commander Baitullah Mehsud.

"We have received information that five Taliban died in the missile strikes and several others were wounded while the building was demolished," said an intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The US military has carried out more than 40 drone attacks this year in Pakistan's volatile tribal region on suspected dens of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters who launch cross-border attacks on international troops in Afghanistan.

Most of the recent attacks have targeted Mehsud's position in South Waziristan. Mehsud carries a $5 million bounty on his head as a key Al Qaeda facilitator.

Pakistan's government has also declared him the country's top enemy for ordering dozens of attacks on government as well as civilian targets over the past two years.

Pakistani troops were preparing for a major offensive in South Waziristan.

Mehsud's men late Friday raided a security post on the Afghan border in the neighbouring Zhob district of Balochistan, killing one soldier and injuring two.

"The raid triggered a gunbattle between the security personnel and insurgents that resulted in the death of up to 10 Taliban," a security official said, adding that the retreating militants took the bodies of their comrades with them.

The gunmen were led by Mehsud commander Mullah Shamsullah, officials said.

Last updated on Jul 11^th, 2009 at 13:32 pm IST--DPA