This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8220762.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Taliban confirm commander's death | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, is dead, two of his senior commanders have told the BBC. | The leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, is dead, two of his senior commanders have told the BBC. |
| It is the first time that the militant group has acknowledged his death. | It is the first time that the militant group has acknowledged his death. |
| The commanders, Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman, said that he had died of injuries sustained in a US missile strike earlier this month. | The commanders, Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman, said that he had died of injuries sustained in a US missile strike earlier this month. |
| Hakimullah has been named as successor to Baitullah Mehsud, who was Pakistan's most feared militant, accused of scores of suicide bombings and other attacks. | Hakimullah has been named as successor to Baitullah Mehsud, who was Pakistan's most feared militant, accused of scores of suicide bombings and other attacks. |
| Hakimullah Mehsud, who is believed to be in his late 20s, said Baitullah Mehsud had been critically wounded by the missile strike but died only on Sunday. | Hakimullah Mehsud, who is believed to be in his late 20s, said Baitullah Mehsud had been critically wounded by the missile strike but died only on Sunday. |
| Waliur Rehman said that Hakimullah Meshud had his support as leader, and denied reports of differences between the two men. | |
| Earlier, government officials said the two factions led by Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman had taken up arms against each other. | |
| Profile: Hakimullah Mehsud Obituary: Baitullah Mehsud | |
| There were also claims that the newly appointed leader had been killed in a clash between the two sides. | |
| The fate of Baitullah Mehsud has also been the subject of intense speculation. | |
| Senior Pakistani government officials have previously said they had information that Baitullah Mehsud was killed when a missile struck his father-in-law's compound on 5 August. | Senior Pakistani government officials have previously said they had information that Baitullah Mehsud was killed when a missile struck his father-in-law's compound on 5 August. |
| A Taliban spokesman arrested last week also reportedly confirmed Baitullah Mehsud's death to Pakistani intelligence officials. | |
| But the Taliban have repeatedly denied these claims, despite announcing the appointment of Hakimullah Mehsud as its new leader just days ago. | |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that the Pakistani government will be pleased that the Taliban has confirmed the death of Baitullah Mehsud. | |
| It has been unable to provide tangible evidence of his death because of the remote and hostile terrain of Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan. |