Hundreds of tribesmen on Tuesday rallied in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region against the U. S. Special Forces operation to kill Osama bin Laden and vowed to avenge the killing of the al-Qaida chief.

A Taliban faction led by Mulla Nazir organized the rally in Wana, center of South Waziristan on Monday, and the demonstrators chanted anti-U.S. slogans. They also criticized the government of Pakistan in slogans.

Witnesses said that nearly 500 tribesmen, religious scholars, Taliban militants and some Taliban commanders took part in the rally, the first in the tribal region after Osama's death.

The demonstrators gathered outside a seminary and the speakers condemned the U.S. operation and said they would avenge the al- Qaida chief's death.

Many protesters carried banners and placards inscribed with anti-U.S. slogans and describing bin Laden as a "martyr of Islam."

Locals said that the shopkeepers had closed all markets at Wana bazaar during the demonstration.

Wana is controlled by Mulla Nazir group of Taliban, which has struck a peace deal with the security forces.