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A suspected US drone fired two missiles into an al-Qaeda and Taliban sanctuary in a Pakistani region near the Afghan border today, killing at least three militants, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The strike in the North Waziristan region was the first since US president Barack Obama's speech last week outlining plans to send 30,000 more US troops to Afghanistan. Mr Obama said Pakistan must not allow its territory to be used as a sanctuary for militants.

The strike took place in Spalga, a village 15km east of North Waziristan's main town of Miranshah. "One of the missiles hit a vehicle and all three militants in it were killed," an intelligence official said.

The US drones have carried out scores of missile strikes in Pakistan over the past year.

In neighbouring South Waziristan, the Pakistan army has launched a major offensive against the militants in mid-October.

Pakistan officially objects to the US strikes saying they are a violation of its sovereignty and they stoke public anger, bolstering Islamist support.

Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a similar US strike in August.