Hundreds of angry tribesmen march through the dusty streets of Bannu in northwestern Pakistan.<br/> <br />They're protesting against U.S. drone attacks in the region.<br/> <br />Chanting anti-American slogans, demonstrators gather to listen to local leaders denounce the controversial tactics employed by the U.S. in its battle against militants near the Afghan border.<br/> <br />Over the last three years, drone strikes have quietly become the U.S. administration's weapon of choice against insurgents.<br/> <br />In 2010 alone, the unmanned aerial vehicles claimed more than 1,000 lives.<br/> <br />One anti-drone activist describes the attacks as "terrorism".<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL LEADER AND ANTI-DRONE ACTIVIST, FAKHR AZAM, SAYING:<br/> <br />"These are innocent tribesmen who defeated the British, who defeated Russia. Today America is terrified of their might. There are no terrorists here; these are suffering tribal people. This is just American terrorism. America is the biggest terrorist."<br/> <br />The sweeping use of drone strikes in Pakistan has created unprecedented anti-American sentiment in the volatile country.<br/> <br />While U.S. intelligence officials claim that only a handful of civilians have died in drone attacks, the vast majority of Pakistanis believe thousands of non-combatants have perished.<br/> <br />Travis Brecher, Reuters
