Four killed in U.S. missile strike in Pakistan

Excellent , way to start off on a Monday !

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (reuters) - A suspected U.S. drone fired a missile at a Taliban target in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region on Monday, killing at least four militants, intelligence officials and residents said.

Pakistani Taliban chief, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed in a similar attack in the neighboring South Waziristan region last month.

The latest attack took place near Mir Ali, the second major town of North Waziristan and a sanctuary for militants linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban.

The blast was so huge that it could be heard as far as Miranshah, the main town of the sparsely-populated region, which is about 24 km (15 miles) from Mir Ali.

Akhtar Rasool, a resident of Mir Ali, said the missile appeared to have struck a militant vehicle.

"The vehicles is in flames and we can see smoke rising from the scene," he told Reuters by telephone.

An intelligence official said at least four militants were killed and that the death toll may rise.

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