Image caption US drone attacks have killed dozens of militants but also civilians

A missile attack by an unmanned US drone aircraft in north-west Pakistan has killed 10 suspected militants, Pakistani security officials say.

The missiles struck a camp about 10km (six miles) south-east of Miranshah, North Waziristan, near the Afghan border, the officials said.

Pakistan has previously complained that such attacks violate its sovereignty.

Last month US President Barack Obama defended the use of drones to target militants in Pakistan's tribal areas.

"Eight militants were killed and two wounded," a Pakistani official told AFP news agency.

"Militants have surrounded the compound and are removing the dead bodies."

Those killed included foreign fighters, officials said, but their nationalities were not specified.

The US does not normally comment on drone operations, which have killed hundreds of people in recent years.

The dead include senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, as well as an unknown number of other militants and civilians.