43 killed as army, drones up the ante

American drones fired four missiles hitting a Taliban training centre run by top commander Malang Wazir, close to the villages of Gharmalai and Nandaran, near the main city of Wana killing nine terrorists.

The American drone attack — the second in three days — came as Pakistani army continued to mass troops and armour for an offensive targeted against Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud. Among those killed were four Taliban fighters and five foreigners — two Arabs and three from Turkmenistan. It was not known whether Malang is a key Taliban commander was among the victims.