Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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June 23, 2009

Rival of Pakistani Taliban Chief Killed
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=24EF417:A6F02AD83191E160D5F2C739F4A02A51D937473925D9872C&
 
Police say militant commander Qari Zainuddin was in his office in town
of Dera Ismail Khan when gunman opened fire on him and wounded one of
his aides 
Police in Pakistan say a militant leader opposed to Pakistani Taliban
chief Baitullah Mehsud was shot dead Tuesday in northwest Pakistan. In
this June 7, 2009 file photo, the leader of Taliban faction Qari
Zainuddin, second right, accompanied by his bodyguards is seen in his
office in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Police say militant commander Qari
Zainuddin was in his office in the town of Dera Ismail Khan when a
gunman opened fire on him and wounded one of his aides. Zainuddin was
rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Zainuddin was a militant commander in the Taliban stronghold South
Waziristan, but recently announced that he would support a planned
military operation against Mehsud. Officials say one of Zainuddin's
guards barged into the complex and shot him after morning prayers. The
motive for the attack is not clear, but suspicion is likely to fall on
Mehsud and his followers. Also Tuesday, locals in South Waziristan say a
suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired a missile into a Mehsud stronghold,
killing at least six militants. Pakistan's military is preparing a new
ground offensive against Mehsud's stronghold in South Waziristan.
Pakistani jets have carried out airstrikes on Mehsud targets in recent
days.


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