Islamabad, Aug 27 (DPA) A suspected US missile strike Thursday in Pakistan's north-western tribal region near the Afghan border killed at least six militants, an intelligence official said.

The attack took place in the South Waziristan district, a stronghold of slain Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud.

A US drone fired missiles on a militant hideout in the Kani Guram area, killing six militants and wounding at least eight more, the intelligence official said on the condition of anonymity.

Identities of those killed in the raid were not immediately known, he added.

The Taliban leadership this week confirmed the death of Mehsud, who was hit Aug 5 in a similar aerial assault on the house of his father-in-law in the district's Makeen area.

Hakimullah Mehsud, the new Taliban chief and no relation to his predecessor, said the warlord was seriously injured in the attack and died this weekend.