Suspected U.S. missile strikes kill 30 militants in Pakistan.

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Suspected U.S. missile strikes kill 30 militants in Pakistan.

Reuters, 12/07 06:33 CET

By Haji Mujtaba

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) – At least 30 militants were killed in less than

12 hours in a hail of missile strikes by suspected U.S. drone aircraft in

Pakistan's northwest region on the Afghan border, a local intelligence official

said Tuesday.

Monday night, drones fired missiles hitting a vehicle used by militants in North

Waziristan, killing six insurgents. Later more missiles were fired, killing 19

in a nearby militant compound, the official said.

The unmanned planes struck again early Tuesday in neighbouring South Waziristan

region, killing at least five insurgents in a vehicle.

The United States has stepped up missile attacks by remotely-piloted drones on

militant sanctuaries on the Pakistani side of the border since the killing of al

Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by U.S. forces in May.

More than 90 militants have been killed since June in drone attacks, according

to Reuters figures based on statements from local intelligence officials.

Pakistan has regularly complained about the U.S. drone strikes, saying they

complicate Islamabad's efforts to win the support of the Pakistani people and

isolate the militants in border regions.

Pakistan-U.S. relations have steadily declined since 2010, with ties severely

weakened following the killing of two Pakistanis by a CIA contractor in January,

and the U.S. raid that killed bin Laden in May, which Pakistan says was a breach

of its sovereignty.

The United States this week said it was holding off $800 million in military aid

to Pakistan in a show of displeasure over Pakistan's cutback of U.S. military

trainers, limits on visa for U.S. personnel and other bilateral irritants.

(Writing by Zeeshan Haider; Editing by Conway and Sanjeev Miglani)