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Hakimullah new Pakistani Taliban head

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-22 21:04

Pakistan Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud (L) is seen with his arm around Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud during a news conference in South Waziristan in this May 24, 2008 file photo. [Agencies]

ISLAMABAD: Media reports say leading Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud has been appointed the new head of the militant group.

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Saturday's reports come two weeks after Washington and Islamabad said the militants' chief, Baitullah Mehsud, was almost certainly killed by a missile strike.

Maulvi Faqir Mohammad told the BBC's Urdu service that a 42-member Taliban council, or shura, appointed a new head because Baitullah Mehsud was ill. Top Taliban commanders have insisted he was not killed by the August 5 CIA missile strike, but they have provided no proof he is still alive.

On Wednesday, Mohammad told The Associated Press that he himself would be the acting head of the Taliban until the shura could appoint a new leader.