Pakistan has strongly condemned a drone strike in North Waziristan that killed 44 people and demanded an apology and explanation from United States.

Civilians and police were among those killed on Thursday when US missiles ploughed into a compound in Datta Khel town of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan.

Locals told that jirga was underway in the house when attack was carried out. All the dead were locals. More than 15 people were laid to rest while the funeral prayers of others will be offered today.

"The government of Pakistan strongly condemns the drone strike which has resulted in a large number of casualties," foreign ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said in a statement on Friday.

She added Pakistan's ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani had been asked to make a similar strong protest to the State Department.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the drone attack. Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and Syed Masood Kausar, the governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, also condemned the attack.