'Foreign militants hit' by Pakistan drone strikes

US drone attacks are being stepped up along the Afghan-Pakistan border

Missiles fired from a US drone have killed three foreign militants in Pakistan's tribal region of North Waziristan, officials say.

The missiles struck a vehicle carrying the militants in the Ambarshaga area. Officials say that four fighters were also injured in the attack.

A local administration official in Miranshah told the BBC that all the dead and injured were Arab militants.

North Waziristan has been the focus of dozens of such airstrikes.

They have killed hundreds of people, including both militants and civilians, since August 2008.

North and South Waziristan are known sanctuaries for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters and the US has recently stepped up drone attacks in the region.

Over the past 18 months Pakistan has publicly criticised drone attacks, saying they fuel support for militants, but observers say the authorities privately condone the strikes.

The American military does not routinely confirm drone operations, but analysts say the US is the only force capable of deploying such aircraft in the region.