Pakistan confirms militant deaths

The attack has resulted in more pressure on Gen Musharraf

Pakistan government officials have said as many as five foreign militants were killed in last week's US air strike on a village near the Afghan border.

Eighteen people were killed in Damadola village last Friday in an attack which has sparked anger across Pakistan.

The US strike was reportedly aimed at assassinating Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's number two, but it does not appear that he was hit.

The Pakistani prime minister has warned against any more such strikes.

The attitude of US officials shows that they do not take the people and government of Pakistan seriously Islam Pakistani newspaper Pakistani media outraged Send us your comments

The US, which believes that al-Zawahiri and al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden are living in the Afghan-Pakistan border region, says it will continue to target militants.

Washington insists relations with Pakistan remain good.

Issues raised

Local officials had already said a statement that at least four to five "foreigners" were killed in the attack, but their bodies were removed from the scene.

The officials also said 10 to 12 "foreign miscreants" had been in the village prior to the attack.

The statement did not name them or mention al-Zawahiri.

A government spokesman said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would raise the issue with US President George W Bush when he meets him in Washington next week.