国际英语新闻:Pakistan Taliban chief killed in U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed including chief of Pakistan Taliban Hakeemullah Mehsud in a U.S. drone strike on Friday evening in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of North Waziristan, local media reported.

According to reports, the U.S. pilot-less plane fired four missiles at a compound targeting a building and a vehicle inside the compound in the Dande Darpa Khel area of Miranshah, a main district of North Waziristan tribal region that borders Afghanistan.

The attack took place soon after the top leadership of Tehrik-i- Taliban Pakistan finished their important meeting to devise strategy to hold peace talks with Pakistani government.

Local media, quoting security sources, reported that two missiles targeted the personal vehicle of Mehsud that was leaving the compound after the meeting.

Taliban sources confirmed the death of Mehsud's driver, guard and a cousin in the U.S. drone strike but they did not say any word about the status of Mehsud.

Pakistan's federal interior minister Nisar Ali Khan said that they had no confirmed news about the death of Mehsud and the attack was an attempt to sabotage the peace process of Pakistani government.

A three-member group of Pakistani government reportedly was to meet a delegation of TTP to start the peace talks.

The strike destroyed the compound and vehicle completely and killed six people on spot besides leaving two others injured.

A big number of Taliban militants cordoned off the area and asked local residents to leave the area.

Since this year, U.S. drones have launched strikes 24 times by firing 69 missiles in Pakistan's northwest tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, killing at least 148 people and leaving 47 others injured.

Earlier on Wednesday night, at least three people were killed and three others injured when a U.S. drone targeted a house in the same tribal region of North Waziristan.

On Wednesday, Pakistan's Upper House was informed that a total of 2, 227 people have so far been killed in 317 U.S. drone attacks in the country since 2008.