Deadly drone strike hits compound, truck

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 4 (UPI) -- Missiles from a suspected unmanned U.S. aircraft struck a compound and a vehicle in North Waziristan, killing more than a dozen people Monday, officials said.

Pakistani officials said the drone fired two missiles at the compound and a truck in the village of Hassu Khel, killing 14 to 16 people, The New York Times reported.

A witness said the compound was being used by Uzbek, Tajik and Turkmen militants fighting for the al-Qaida affiliate Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

The attack in the North Waziristan tribal agency, a safe haven for al-Qaida and Taliban along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was the eighth strike since the NATO summit in Chicago ended two weeks ago without agreement on reopening NATO supply lines through Pakistan.

Pakistan barricaded supply routes in November after U.S.-led coalition airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Negotiations have been stymied over transit fees, the Times said.

Dawn News reported Monday the United States has agreed to reimburse $1.8 billion in military aid payments, about 75 percent of the amount demanded by Pakistan.

The two sides have two weeks to reach agreement on the supply line issue because the U.S. Congress requires two weeks' notice to review any new arrangement before the July 4 recess.

Peter Lavoy, a senior Pentagon official, was expected in Pakistan this week as part of an effort to break the deadlock.