PESHAWAR At least five people were killed in Khyber Agency in a purported US missile strike on Saturday. If confirmed, it would be the first such attack in the area, intelligence and government officials said.

The strike could fan fresh anger because it represented a widening of the covert US programme.

Officials gave differing death tolls in the strike, which one said involved two missiles hitting a house and two trucks carrying militants. The death toll ranged from five to 15.

Much of the supplies for US and Nato troops in Afghanistan are transported through the region and the convoys have often been attacked.

Almost all of the more than 30 missile attacks this year have hit targets in the Waziristan tribal region.—AP

Our Correspondent in Landi Kotal adds At least 13 militants were killed in Saturday's incident at Bazaar-Zakhakhel area of Khyber Agency. Officials gave three different causes for the deaths — a bomb explosion, drone attack and a clash between rival militant factions.

The deaths were reported from the Mangal Bagh Kandao and Wargha localities in Bazaar-Zakhakhel sub-tehsil of Landi Kotal. The area is a stronghold of Lashkar-i-Islam, an outlawed militant group of Bara-Khyber Agency.

Khyber Agency Political Agent Shafirullah Khan said there were conflicting reports about a drone attack and a clash between the Taliban and the activists of Lashkar-i-Islam.

“The most credible report, however, is that a vehicle carrying militants was destroyed by a roadside explosive device,” Mr Khan said.

He said a group of militants believed that the May 13 air strike on one of the bases in Tirah had been carried out by government in connivance of with their rivals.

The air strike killed at least 11 Taliban who sources said had come from Swat and were staying in the house of an elder of Kukikhels.

Mr Khan said that 13 militants had been killed in the incident on Saturday and a vehicle was destroyed.

An intelligent official in Landi Kotal confirmed reports about a drone attack.

Another official said that a drone targeted the house of one Dost Mohammad where members of Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur were present. He said an explosive-laden vehicle was also destroyed in the attack.