US-led forces kill 24 militants on Pakistan border(in Pakistan)

US-led forces kill 24 militants on Pakistan border

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces killed 24 suspected Islamist militants on the Pakistan side of the Afghan border, Pakistan's military spokesman said on Friday.

The fighters, believed to belong to pro-Taliban and al Qaeda forces, were killed crossing into Pakistan late on Thursday near Lowara Mandi, a border village in the North Waziristan tribal region, Major-General Shaukat Sultan said.

"Apparently these people were trying to escape into Pakistani territory when they were hit by coalition forces. Their bodies are, of course, with the Pakistani authorities," Sultan told Reuters.

"They are foreigners and suspected Taliban. They could be Afghans and people of central Asian origin," he added.

Paramilitary sources in North Waziristan said the militants had fired missiles at a base for U.S.-led and Afghan forces some three km (two miles) across the border.

"The coalition forces returned fire using rockets and heavy weapons," a paramilitary official told Reuters.

A witness said he saw U.S. helicopters engaged in the attack, while Geo television said the fighters were killed by a missile.

Sultan said the U.S. side had informed their Pakistani counterparts before opening fire on the fleeing militants, but there would still be a check to see whether there had been any violation of Pakistani territory or airspace.