CIA to Expand Drone Raids in Pakistan

The CIA has received authorization to target a wider range of targets in Pakistan by its drone-guided missiles, despite national discontent on growing civilian death toll.

The US will expand its drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal regions, including low-level fighters whose identities may not be known, US officials said Wednesday, reported Reuters.

The report Reuters published says the targets include what has been described as "all militants".

The US drone strikes began to expand under former President George Bush and have further intensified under President Barack Obama.

The announcement comes as more than 850 people, mostly civilians, have been reported killed in nearly 100 raids by American pilotless planes since August 2008.