"At least 40 people have died in a US drone strike in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan, local officials say. Most of the victims were believed to be civilians attending a tribal meeting near the regional capital, Miranshah. Earlier reports said many militants were among the dead. The area is an al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold and US drones regularly target the region. [...] The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says Thursday's drone strike is the deadliest attack since 2006 when 80 people were killed in the tribal region of Bajaur. Officials say two drones were involved in the attack in the Datta Khel area 40km (25 miles) west of Miranshah. One missile was fired at a car carrying suspected militants. Local tribesmen say the drones then fired another three missiles at their meeting."