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U.S. Raid Hurts Ally In Pakistan

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The Associated Press

Published: September 5, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A deadly American-led raid on a Pakistani village embarrassed the government and eroded support for the pro-U.S. presidential front-runner Thursday just two days before the election.
Furor continued to mount over the first known foreign ground assault inside Pakistan against a suspected Taliban haven.

The government summoned the U.S. ambassador for an official protest, and Parliament passed resolutions of condemnation.

The ground assault, with troops inserted by helicopter, occurred in adjacent South Waziristan early Wednesday. Officials said at least 15 people died, including women and children. The raid has complicated life for presidential front-runner Asif Ali Zardari and his governing Pakistan People's Party heading into Saturday's vote by legislators to elect a successor to former President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under pressure last month.

The party, which came to power after defeating Musharraf's allies in February, is generally supportive of Washington's war on terrorism. However, it has to tread carefully because many Pakistanis blame the alliance for fueling violence by Islamic militants in their country.

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