Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 2, 2008

Taliban, Pakistan Reject Reports of al-Qaida Deputy's Death 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1D8262E:A6F02AD83191E1601C2585BB163897767F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
CBS says it based its report on intercepted letter from Pakistani
Taliban commander that said Ayman al-Zawahiri needed medical treatment
after military strike 
Al-Qaida's number two leader, Ayman al-Zawahri (file photo)A spokesman
for the Taliban in Pakistan is quoted Saturday as denying a
U.S. media report that Osama bin Laden's chief deputy, Ayman
al-Zawahiri, has been killed or wounded.The spokesman called Friday's
report by CBS News "baseless."Pakistani
officials say they have not seen any evidence to support the claim that
al-Qaida's second-in-command was hit in missile strike Monday in South
Waziristan, near the Afghan border.CBS said it based its report
on an intercepted letter from a Pakistani Taliban commander that said
Zawahiri needed medical treatment after the military strike.In
other news, security officials say six police officers were killed
Saturday when a bomb exploded in northwestern Pakistan's Swat
valley.They say the bomb was detonated by remote control as a vehicle
passed.Government security forces are battling pro-Taliban militants in
the northwestern region. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


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