Chants of "Down with America" and "Down with Musharraf" rang out as the tribesmen gathered.

The Afghan government hailed the strike on the madrasa and hoped Pakistani forces would continue its militant crackdown.

"We welcome and support this act, and hope that this is the beginning of more such operations," Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi told Reuters in Kabul.

Islamist politicians said the attack on the school was really carried out by a US Predator drone aircraft, and the Pakistani army was covering up its acquiescence by claiming responsibility.

Nowhere is Musharraf's alliance with the United States in a war on terrorism more unpopular than in the Pashtun tribal belt straddling the Pakistan-Afghan border.