US claims top Qaeda commander killed in drone attack in South Waziristan, Pak denies

London, Dec. 11 : A top Al-Qaeda commander has reportedly been killed in a US drone attack in South Waziristan's Ladha region.

Fox news reported that neither Al-Qaeda chief Osama-bin-Laden or Qaeda's second man in command Ayman al-Zawahiri were among those killed in the attack.

Pakistani officials, however, have denied any such missile strike in the region.

"No predator drone strike has taken place today," a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Sources said the strike was part of the expanded use of Predator drones recently authorized by the Obama administration.

Over 40 such strikes carried out by unmanned US aircrafts have killed over 100 militants in the region, which Pakistan claims is proving counterproductive in its war on terror.

While the CIA considers the attacks highly successful and claims that more than half of the 20 most wanted Al Qaeda suspects have been killed in such attacks, they have also inflamed anti-American sentiments in Pakistan over killing hundreds of civilians.

--ANI