Pakistani Prime Minister Raza Gilani denounced the drone strike, which Pakistani authorities insist was mounted without their having been warned, let alone giving it their sanction.

Mullens visit was described as an attempt to defuse tensiona euphemism for the crisis in US-Pakistani relations provoked by the unprecedented September 3 US military raid on Pakistan and the subsequent revelation that George W. Bush signed a presidential order in mid-July authorizing US Special Operations forces to carry out missions in Pakistan without Islamabads permission.

In the days following the September 3 raid Pakistans parliament unanimously passed a motion calling for any further attacks to be repelled by force and members of the Pakistani top brass, including Pakistan military chief General Ashfaq Kayani, pledged future US incursions would be resisted.

On Monday, gunfire from Pakistani forces reportedly forced two US military helicopters that were attempting to cross into Pakistanvery near the site of Wednesdays drone strike and the September 3 raidto turn back.

A Reuters report cited a Pakistani security official as saying, The US choppers came into Pakistan by just 100 to 150 meters at Angor Adda. Even then our troops did not spare them, opened fire on them and they turned away.

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