At least six missile attacks from suspected US drones have killed eight people and wounded five others in the Pakistani province of South Waziristan near the Afghan border.

Officials said the attack early on Wednesday targeted a training camp run by Baitullah Meshud, the Pakistani Taliban leader.

A security official said: "There was a US missile strike on a Taliban compound in Karwan Manza area of South Waziristan."

Another security official said local sources were reporting that between eight and 10 people had been killed, but said that the death toll was yet to be verified.

Missile strikes

On Tuesday, a US missile strike pulverised a compound in South Waziristan, killing up to 16 people.

Top Arab leaders of the al-Qaeda network are believed to be hiding in the region, as well as scores of fighters from nearby countries, especially Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

The US is thought to have launched more than 40 missiles against targets in the border area since last August, according to a count by The Associated Press news agency.

One attack on the funeral of a dead fighter killed up to 80 people.

Pakistan's army is deploying troops in South Waziristan and launching regular air strikes of its own to try and kill or capture Mehsud, who is blamed for organising many of the suicide attacks in Pakistan over the last few years.