By M Ilyas Khan BBC News
October 31, 2006 17.39 GMT
Locals say civilians were killed in the attack |
The missile strike that has killed close to 80 alleged militants in Pakistan’s Bajaur area appears to have targeted well-known supporters of the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
But exactly who was killed at Chinagai remains unclear as paramilitary troops prevented reporters from travelling to the area.
A number of locals and a senior minister in North-West Frontier Province, Siraj-ul-Haq, who led funeral prayers for those killed, said that there were several children among the dead.
Surprisingly, the attack came on a day when the government and local militants were scheduled to sign a peace deal mediated by tribal elders. Read more »