Pakistan

Taliban leader Mehsud ill, drone hits tribal area

Article published on the 2008-10-01 Latest update 2008-10-01 14:14 TU

Tribal forces guard an army convoy in Raghagan
(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud is seriously ill, according to military officials and some of his own allies. But his supporters have denied reports that the Islamist chief, whom officials blame for the death of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, is dead. In the semi-autonomous tribal areas, local militias have turned on Al-Qaeda-linked groups but a suspected US drone killed nine alleged Islamist guerrillas.

Pakistani television stations reported that Mehsud died overnight. But government officials and members of his orgainsation say that he is still alive, although seriously ill.

Security officials claim that relatives say that the militant leader is in a coma.

A senior Taliban commander told the French news agency AFP that Mehsud is having a severe bout of diabetes but will recover. Mehsud is in the South Waziristan tribal area.

In neighbouring North Waziristan a missile hit a house and killed eight people, whom officials say were armed fighters.

Pakistani officials say that the missile was fired by a US drone, in breach of Washington's assurance on Monday that it supports Pakistan's "teritorial integrity". The attack apparently came after tribesmen fired on three drones circling the area.

US and Nato activity on Pakistani soil has been the cause of considerable friction between Islamabad and Washington recently.

In another violence-prone area, Bajaur, a tribal militia has killed 13 Taliban, according to officials. One tribal fighter is reported to have died in the clashes, which occured after Salarzai tribesmen set fire to about a dozen guerrilla hideouts in revenge for the killing of nine of their fellows on Monday.

Tha authorities say that thousands of tribesmen have joined militias, known as lashkar, to fight Al-Qaeda-linked groups and that 1,000 militants have been killed over the last month.

The Islamist fighters, some of whom are of foreign origin, have alienated local people, says Peshawar correspondent Behroz Khan.

"These militants, they have become a nuisance for the local people," he told RFI. "They have usurped their rights and there are no civil liberties under these militants. So the people are fed up with them."

The tribesmen say they wil also fight US forces who cross into Pakistani territory from Afghanistan.