Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
August 22, 2009

Pakistani Taliban Appoints Successor to Mehsud
----------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2627C3B:A6F02AD83191E16058A63168CCDB2FBAF47489ACC27D21EE&
 
Despite appointment of new leader, Taliban holds to claim that Baitullah
Mehsud is still alive, saying he is seriously ill 
Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud (bottom C) speaks to the
media at his stronghold in South Waziristan (file photo)A Taliban
commander says the Pakistani Taliban has appointed a
successor to Baitullah Mehsud, the group's leader believed killed in a
U.S. missile strike earlier this month. Maulvi Faqir Mohammad told media
a 42-member Taliban shura or council appointed Hakimullah Mehsud to
replace Baitullah Mehsud. Hakimullah
Mehsud is a close aide of Baitullah Mehsud, who was reportedly killed
in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's South Waziristan region near the
Afghan border on August 5.Despite the appointment of a new
leader, the Pakistani Taliban held to its claim that Baitullah Mehsud
is still alive, saying he is seriously ill. Meanwhile, security
officials and tribal elders say at least 21 people were killed in a
suspected U.S. missile attack Friday on a militant hideout in
northwestern Pakistan. The officials said women and at least five
children were among the dead. Some of the casualties were said to be
Afghans. In
the attack, missiles destroyed a home in Dande Darpa Khel, a village
near Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan. The area is a
stronghold of senior Afghan Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani. Some
Pakistani officials say the missile strike was targeting his son, Siraj.
The
U.S. has fired more than 40 missiles using Central Intelligence
Agency-operated drones to target al-Qaida and Taliban strongholds in
Pakistan's northwest. Pakistan's government has asked for U.S.
drone technology. But U.S. military officials say the United States
remains opposed to joint operations with Pakistani intelligence
services because of concerns the information would be leaked to
militants. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


.