A US unmanned drone aircraft has fired several missiles into a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, killing at least ten people and injuring several others.

The strike took place in the restive North Waziristan tribal district on Friday.

The death toll is expected to rise as some of the injured were said to be in critical condition. The attack took place in an area where people do not have access to urgent medical assistance.

The US alleges the air strikes, which are common in Pakistan, target pro-Taliban militants in the tribal belt.

However, Pakistani media outlets say only one-sixth of the raids have managed to target militant hideouts.

Hundreds of people have been killed in dozens of strikes from CIA-operated spy drones in the region since early 2008.

The civilian and military authorities in Islamabad publicly oppose the US missile strikes, saying they violate the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

JR/MTM/DT