New Taliban chief dispels rumours of his death
(AFP) – 1 hour ago
(AFP) – 1 hour ago
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The new Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud appeared in a video clip broadcast on local television on Monday, dispelling rumours of his death and vowing new attacks.
Hakimullah Mehsud claimed to have taken over the reins of the feared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in late August, after finally confirming that their commander Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US missile strike that month.
But rumours since swirled that Hakimullah Mehsud himself was also dead, with a senior US counter-terrorism official on Saturday saying they were looking into reports he was killed during infighting over the succession.
"I am alive and sitting in front of you. All the stories about my death were baseless. You can see me that I am alive," a healthy-looking Hakimullah Mehsud said in a video clip seen in full by an AFP reporter.
"We will take severe revenge for Baitullah Mehsud's killing and the continued drone strikes... both America and Pakistan will have to face the consequences," said the warlord, believed to be about 30.
"We have respect for Al-Qaeda and the jihadist organisations, we are with them. Tehreek-e-Taliban is united and stronger than before."
The footage shows a smart and bearded Hakimullah Mehsud sitting on the ground in a clearing surrounded by trees and flanked by Taliban commanders. Two militants wielding a gun and a rocket launcher stand behind them.
Wali-ur Rehman, Hakimullah Mehsud's apparent rival for the Taliban leadership, is shown sitting beside him.
Television reports on the private Dawn and Express 24/7 stations said the footage was recorded Sunday at an undisclosed location.
Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a strike by a US drone in the Taliban's tribal heartland of South Waziristan on August 5, with government officials saying the death plunged the militants into disarray.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on August 9 there had been a shoot-out between Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur Rehman which left the former dead, sparking speculation over the young commander's fate.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Hakimullah Mehsud claimed to have taken over the reins of the feared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in late August, after finally confirming that their commander Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US missile strike that month.
But rumours since swirled that Hakimullah Mehsud himself was also dead, with a senior US counter-terrorism official on Saturday saying they were looking into reports he was killed during infighting over the succession.
"I am alive and sitting in front of you. All the stories about my death were baseless. You can see me that I am alive," a healthy-looking Hakimullah Mehsud said in a video clip seen in full by an AFP reporter.
"We will take severe revenge for Baitullah Mehsud's killing and the continued drone strikes... both America and Pakistan will have to face the consequences," said the warlord, believed to be about 30.
"We have respect for Al-Qaeda and the jihadist organisations, we are with them. Tehreek-e-Taliban is united and stronger than before."
The footage shows a smart and bearded Hakimullah Mehsud sitting on the ground in a clearing surrounded by trees and flanked by Taliban commanders. Two militants wielding a gun and a rocket launcher stand behind them.
Wali-ur Rehman, Hakimullah Mehsud's apparent rival for the Taliban leadership, is shown sitting beside him.
Television reports on the private Dawn and Express 24/7 stations said the footage was recorded Sunday at an undisclosed location.
Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a strike by a US drone in the Taliban's tribal heartland of South Waziristan on August 5, with government officials saying the death plunged the militants into disarray.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on August 9 there had been a shoot-out between Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur Rehman which left the former dead, sparking speculation over the young commander's fate.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
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