Pakistan recovers US spy drone

Pakistan recovers US spy drone
Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:11:54 GMT
US Predator drones usually armed with Hellfire missiles have killed dozens of Pakistani civilians during recent weeks.
The Pakistani military has found the wreckage of a suspected US spy plane near the Afghan border amid claims that tribesmen had shot it down.

A military statement said Wednesday that the drone was recovered in the South Waziristan tribal area and the wreckage was being examined.

"The wreckage of the surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been recovered from the site by the security forces personnel and the matter is under detailed investigation," the statement added, AFP reported.

"The UAV, while flying over the Pak-Afghan border yesterday night, crash-landed on this side of the border... apparently due to malfunctioning."

Islamabad said that Pakistani troops had not fired shots at the drone and that intelligence operatives had no report of any gunfire at the time when the incident happened.

However, the residents and tribal elders in the town of Angoor Adda, where the spy plane crashed, insisted that tribesmen shot it down.

The drone crash comes as tension between Washington and Islamabad is mounting over US missile strikes and incursions on Pakistani soil.

JR/MMN