At least 16 militants were killed and seven others injured in a coordinated attack by US drones which fired a volley of missiles at three Taliban hideouts in the restive South Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan on Sunday.

Four CIA-operated spy planes carried out the attack in Babargarh area of South Waziristan, security officials said. The drones fired 10 missiles at three militant compounds, which were destroyed. Some reports said the compounds were being used as hideouts by the Punjabi Taliban.

Sixteen militants were killed, TV news channels reported.

Local residents rushed to the site and removed the rubble to search for survivors. The residents said several drones were seen hovering over the area after the attack.

The strike came three days after another drone attack in South Waziristan tribal agency killed pro-government warlord Mullah Nazir and 12 of his fighters. Thousands of tribesmen yesterday joined a protest against US drone strikes in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan. Mullah Nazir, a leader of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribe, had finalised a peace deal with Pakistani security forces in 2007.