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Pakistani Taliban leader 'killed' Pakistani Taliban leader 'killed'
(about 2 hours later)
There are growing indications that Pakistan's most wanted man, Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, has been killed by a US missile.There are growing indications that Pakistan's most wanted man, Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, has been killed by a US missile.
A Mehsud aide reportedly confirmed that he had died when a drone attacked the house where he was staying.A Mehsud aide reportedly confirmed that he had died when a drone attacked the house where he was staying.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Quresh said the government was seeking "ground verification".Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Quresh said the government was seeking "ground verification".
Taliban leaders have gathered in South Waziristan to choose a successor, local sources have told the BBC.Taliban leaders have gathered in South Waziristan to choose a successor, local sources have told the BBC.
See a map of the region See a map of the region
ANALYSIS Orla Guerin, BBC News, IslamabadANALYSIS Orla Guerin, BBC News, Islamabad
Mehsud's death would be seen in Pakistan as a huge step forward.Mehsud's death would be seen in Pakistan as a huge step forward.
He has been the country's most wanted man, blamed for a string of suicide attacks and also accused of being behind the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. He has also been on America's wanted list, with a price of $5m on his head. He is seen there as an al-Qaeda facilitator.He has been the country's most wanted man, blamed for a string of suicide attacks and also accused of being behind the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. He has also been on America's wanted list, with a price of $5m on his head. He is seen there as an al-Qaeda facilitator.
In the past month or so, both the Pakistanis and Americans have been working hard to tighten the net around him, with US drone strikes but also with air strikes by the Pakistani authorities.In the past month or so, both the Pakistanis and Americans have been working hard to tighten the net around him, with US drone strikes but also with air strikes by the Pakistani authorities.
If reports of his death are confirmed, this will be seen here as the elimination of a key enemy of this country and of a man who has caused the killing of hundreds of civilians.If reports of his death are confirmed, this will be seen here as the elimination of a key enemy of this country and of a man who has caused the killing of hundreds of civilians.
Three names are under consideration says Abdul Hai Kakar, a BBC reporter based in Peshawar. Three names are under consideration, says Abdul Hai Kakar, a BBC reporter based in Peshawar.
Hakimullah Mehsud, Maulana Azmatullah and Wali-ur-Rehman were all mentioned as possible successors.Hakimullah Mehsud, Maulana Azmatullah and Wali-ur-Rehman were all mentioned as possible successors.
People living close to the scene of the missile attack in South Waziristan told the BBC Baitullah Mehsud had been killed along with his wife early on Wednesday. People living close to the scene of the missile attack in South Waziristan told the BBC Baitullah Mehsud had been killed with his wife early on Wednesday.
The remoteness of the location is contributing to the delay in establishing the facts, the BBC's Orla Guerin reports from Islamabad.The remoteness of the location is contributing to the delay in establishing the facts, the BBC's Orla Guerin reports from Islamabad.
A senior US official told the BBC there were "strong indications that Beitullah Mehsud is dead". A spokesman for US President Barack Obama said the US could not confirm the death, but added that "there seems to be a growing consensus among credible observers that he is indeed dead".
"He had very close links to al-Qaeda and he had Coalition [of Nato-led forces in Afghanistan] blood on his hands," the official said. The White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs, described Baitullah Mehsud as "a murderous thug", and said Pakistani people would be safer if he was dead.
"This is a major short-term blow to the Pakistani Taliban but he had many followers and he will be replaced." Previous reports of Baitullah Mehsud's death have proved to be unfounded. He was said to be suffering from an illness for which he was taking medication.
Previous reports of Baitullah Mehsud's death have proved to be unfounded.
South Waziristan is a stronghold of the Taliban chief, who has been blamed by Pakistan for a series of suicide bomb attacks in the country.South Waziristan is a stronghold of the Taliban chief, who has been blamed by Pakistan for a series of suicide bomb attacks in the country.
'Hit on the roof''Hit on the roof'
Kafayat Ullah, described as an aide to Baitullah Mehsud, told the Associated Press by telephone on Friday that his leader had been killed along with his second wife by a US missile. He gave no further details.Kafayat Ullah, described as an aide to Baitullah Mehsud, told the Associated Press by telephone on Friday that his leader had been killed along with his second wife by a US missile. He gave no further details.
There is a sense of awe as this short, plump, bearded man greets us Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC reporter on meetingBaitullah Meshud in 2008 Tea with Mehsud Profile: Baitullah Mehsud Long war against the Taliban Ordinary garden tea party talk except for two things - the venue and the host - we are in Pakistan's tribal region of South Waziristan. Our host is the region's top Islamic militant, Baitullah Mehsud Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC reporter on meetingBaitullah Meshud in 2008 Tea with Mehsud Profile: Baitullah Mehsud Long war against the Taliban
The missile fired by the US drone hit the home of the Taliban chief's father-in-law, Malik Ikramuddin, in the Zangarha area, 15km (9 miles) north-east of Ladha, at around 0100 on Wednesday (1900 GMT Tuesday).The missile fired by the US drone hit the home of the Taliban chief's father-in-law, Malik Ikramuddin, in the Zangarha area, 15km (9 miles) north-east of Ladha, at around 0100 on Wednesday (1900 GMT Tuesday).
At the time of the attack, the Taliban leader was said to be on the roof, suffering from an illness for which he was taking medication, local people told our Peshawar reporter. At the time of the attack, the Taliban leader was said to be on the roof, local people told our Peshawar reporter.
Some who had reportedly seen his body said that it had been half-destroyed by the blast.Some who had reportedly seen his body said that it had been half-destroyed by the blast.
Baitullah Mehsud was buried in the nearby village of Nardusai, the witnesses told our reporter.Baitullah Mehsud was buried in the nearby village of Nardusai, the witnesses told our reporter.
Several of Baitullah Mehsud's relatives were also injured, local people told the BBC earlier.Several of Baitullah Mehsud's relatives were also injured, local people told the BBC earlier.
Pakistan's foreign minister told reporters in Islamabad that "to be 100% sure [of the Taliban leader's death], we are going for ground verification".Pakistan's foreign minister told reporters in Islamabad that "to be 100% sure [of the Taliban leader's death], we are going for ground verification".
One factor complicating verification of his death is the lack of photographs of the Taliban leader.One factor complicating verification of his death is the lack of photographs of the Taliban leader.
Pakistan's foreign minister: "We are going for ground verification"Pakistan's foreign minister: "We are going for ground verification"
When the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan went to interview him in South Waziristan in May 2008, he found himself sitting down before a short, plump, bearded man, reluctant to allow his picture to be taken.When the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan went to interview him in South Waziristan in May 2008, he found himself sitting down before a short, plump, bearded man, reluctant to allow his picture to be taken.
Pakistan's interior minister, Rehman Malik, told the BBC that even if DNA could be recovered at the scene, the authorities did not have a sample from a male relative of the Taliban leader to compare it with.Pakistan's interior minister, Rehman Malik, told the BBC that even if DNA could be recovered at the scene, the authorities did not have a sample from a male relative of the Taliban leader to compare it with.
Are you in the region? What do you think of the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud? You can send us your views using the form below.Are you in the region? What do you think of the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud? You can send us your views using the form below.
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