Pakistani Taliban chief, 40 militants killed in drone strike

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed along with 40 militants in a drone strike last week, said a commander of a rival group Sunday.

Haji Turkistan Bettani, a commander of Abdullah Mehsud group of militants, told local TV channels that the mastermind of the suicide attacks Qari Hussain was also seriously injured in the U.S. drone attack in the Pakistani tribal area of South Waziristan on Aug. 5.

Bettani said that Mufti Wali-ur-Rehman and Hakimullah, two aspirants to succeed Baitullah Mehsud, were also killed along with their aides in a Taliban Shura meeting, which flared into fierce clash and cross firing over the leadership.