The air strike in the restive South Waziristan tribal zone bordering Afghanistan was the latest in a string of attacks on Pakistani soil that have raised tensions between Islamabad and Washington.

It targeted a compound near the town of Ladha, one of the main sectors held by Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, who has been accused of masterminding the assassination of former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto in December.

There were no immediate indications that Mehsud, the chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistan Taliban movement), was targeted in the attack.

"Two missiles hit the compound, which was being used for training, and destroyed it. Initial reports say at least 10 people have been killed," a senior security official told AFP.

A local official also confirmed the strike but did not have a confirmed death toll.

There was no immediate confirmation of the strike from the Pakistani military or from the US-led coalition in Afghanistan.

Despite the fact that Mehsud is one of Pakistan's wanted men, the strike was one of the first in his territory since the United States dramatically stepped up the number of missile attacks on Pakistani soil earlier this year.

Previous US strikes have targeted Taliban leaders blamed mainly for cross-border attacks inside Afghanistan, whereas Mehsud's activities have mostly been conducted at home, security officials said.

Sunday's strike was the 12th such incident in the past 10 weeks, all of which have been blamed on US-led coalition forces or CIA drones based in Afghanistan.

US and Afghan officials say northwest Pakistan is a safe haven for Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who sneaked in from Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001.

But Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has vowed zero tolerance against violations of his country's sovereignty amid the strikes, which have stoked anti-US sentiment in Pakistan.

Last week, 11 people were killed when suspected US spy drones fired missiles into a school in North Waziristan set up by veteran Taliban militant Jalaluddin Haqqani, a major target for US forces, security officials said.

Haqqani was one of the most prominent Afghan commanders who fought the Soviet Red Army between 1978 and 1989. He subsequently became close to Mullah Omar, the leader of the 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Since the fall of the Taliban, Haqqani has become one of the most active Taliban commanders launching attacks on international forces in Afghanistan from safe havens in Pakistan, officials here say.

Last week, Pakistan's parliament passed a special resolution calling for an urgent review of the government's anti-terror policy, including more talks with militants and a vow to defend Pakistan's territorial sovereignty.

Troops have for months battled militants in Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal zones bordering Afghanistan, especially in the Bajaur area.

Eleven militants were killed Sunday in separate clashes with troops in Bajaur, one day after the military announced it had recaptured an Al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold in the area following two months of intense fighting.

In neighbouring Mohmand, 12 people, mainly paramilitary soldiers, were wounded late Sunday in a suicide car bomb attack on a checkpost, a senior security official said.

And in the restive northwestern Swat valley, 15 people including 10 Taliban militants were killed in a gun battle with locals, officials said.

The clash erupted in Matta district when supporters of radical pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Fazlullah tried to kidnap a religious leader who has raised a 500-strong militia against Taliban rebels, a military official said.

Once a popular tourist resort, Swat has been turned into a battleground since Fazlullah launched a violent campaign for Islamic Sharia law.

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