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Suicide bomber kills 5 at UN office

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-05 17:58

Police and medical workers move the body of a foreigner, wrapped in carpet, to a hospital in Islamabad October 5, 2009. [Agencies]

On Sunday, Hakimullah Mehsud, the new leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, met with reporters in the country's tribal areas for the first time since winning control of the militants.

His appearance, flanked by other Taliban commanders in a show of unity, ended speculation that he was killed in a leadership battle within the militant group sparked by the August slaying of his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud, in a missile strike.

Related readings:  One killed in blast at UN office in Pakistan  Suicide bombs kill 16, wound about 150 in Pakistan  Suicide attack kills 6, injures dozens in Pakistan  Officials: Suspected US drone kills 4 in Pakistan  Pakistan kills 43 militants in strikes

Mehsud said his group would avenge the killing of Baitullah Mehsud and strike back at Pakistan and the US for the increasing number of drone attacks in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. He spoke to a small group of reporters on condition that his comments not be published until Monday.

Unmanned drones have carried out more than 70 missile strikes in northwestern Pakistan over the last year in a covert program, killing several top militant commanders along with sympathizers and civilians.

American officials have said they are considering a strategy of intensified drone attacks combined with the deployment of special operations forces against al-Qaida and Taliban targets on the Pakistani side of the border -- part of an alternative to sending more troops to Afghanistan in what is an increasingly unpopular war.

As part of the offensive against the Taliban leadership, Mehsud's brother, Kalimullah, was killed last month. Analysts say the group is struggling to regroup from the attacks on its leaders. Pakistani officials had speculated that Hakimullah had been killed in a recent shootout.

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