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Posted on: Jan. 14th, 2006 || www.cbsnews.com

(AP) An airstrike on a Pakistani village near the Afghan border targeted Osama bin Laden's right-hand man, Pakistani officials said Saturday. They said efforts were under way to determine if the elusive Ayman al-Zawahri or any other terror suspects were among at least 17 people killed.

Citing unnamed American intelligence officials, U.S. networks reported that a CIA-operated Predator drone aircraft carried out the missile strike in the Bajur tribal region of northwestern Pakistan.

An AP reporter who visited the scene in Damadola village about 12 hours later saw three destroyed houses, hundreds of yards apart. Villagers, who denied any links to Taliban or al-Qaida militants, recounted hearing aircraft flying overhead before being bombarded with blasts felt miles away. By their count at least 30 people died, including women and children.

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