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Taliban head Mehsud 'may be dead' Taliban head Mehsud 'may be dead'
(41 minutes 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.
He is said to have died when a drone targeted the home of a relative.He is said to have died when a drone targeted the home of a relative.
Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that information was "pouring in" that he was dead but there was no conclusive evidence.Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that information was "pouring in" that he was dead but there was no conclusive evidence.
Taliban leaders have gathered for a meeting in South Waziristan, reports from the region say. Taliban leaders have gathered in South Waziristan to choose a successor, local sources have told the BBC.
"An important announcement is expected at the end of the meeting," an unnamed Taliban commander told AFP news agency. Three names are under consideration and it is possible the Taliban are waiting to choose their new leader before announcing Baitullah Mehsud's death, says Abdul Hai Kakar, a BBC reporter based in Peshawar.
Family members have already confirmed that one of Baitullah Mehsud's wives was killed on Wednesday by a US drone strike on his father's home in South Waziristan. People living close to the scene of the missile attack in South Waziristan told the BBC that he had been killed along with his wife on Wednesday.
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.
The remoteness of the location is contributing to the delay in establishing the facts, the BBC's Orla Guerin reports from Islamabad. However, the remoteness of the location is contributing to the delay in establishing the facts, the BBC's Orla Guerin reports from Islamabad.
A US official said there was "reason to believe reports of his death may be true but it cannot be confirmed".A US official said there was "reason to believe reports of his death may be true but it cannot be confirmed".
Pakistan's information minister stressed that although the information coming in suggested he had been killed, there was no tangible proof.Pakistan's information minister stressed that although the information coming in suggested he had been killed, there was no tangible proof.
Even if DNA could be recovered at the scene, he added, the authorities did not have a sample from a male relative to compare it with.Even if DNA could be recovered at the scene, he added, the authorities did not have a sample from a male relative to compare it with.
Previous reports of Baitullah Mehsud's death have proved to be unfounded.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.
'Some information' 'Hit on the roof'
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).
We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik Profile: Baitullah Mehsud Long war against the Taliban Tea with MehsudWe have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik Profile: Baitullah Mehsud Long war against the Taliban Tea with Mehsud
Several of Baitullah Mehsud's relatives were injured, locals told the BBC. But Pakistani officials have since said they believe that, aside from the Taliban leader's second wife, at least one other person was killed. 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.
Some people who said they saw 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.
Several of Baitullah Mehsud's relatives were also injured, local people told the BBC earlier.
On Friday, Mr Malik said his country's security forces believed Baitullah Mehsud was among the dead.On Friday, Mr Malik said his country's security forces believed Baitullah Mehsud was among the dead.
"We suspect he was killed in the missile strike," he told the Reuters news agency. "We suspect he was killed in the missile strike," he said. "We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it."
"We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it."
Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik comments on the reported deathPakistani interior minister Rehman Malik comments on the reported death
ABC News was told by one US official that visual and other indicators suggested there was a 95% chance that Mehsud had been killed.ABC News was told by one US official that visual and other indicators suggested there was a 95% chance that Mehsud had been killed.
Pakistani security forces were now trying to collect physical evidence that would prove he had died, it said.Pakistani security forces were now trying to collect physical evidence that would prove he had died, it said.
One other factor complicating verification of his death is the lack of photographs of the Taliban leader.One other factor complicating verification of his death is the lack of photographs of the Taliban leader.
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.
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