Around the World: Pakistan

Missile attack kills 55

The head of Pakistan's Taliban attended a funeral shortly before a suspected US missile strike that killed about 55 people, two intelligence officials said yesterday, but a top Taliban aide denied that the leader had a close call.

Baitullah Mehsud, accused of plotting suicide bombings and the assassination on Tuesday of his chief rival, is the target of a looming offensive by Pakistan's military in the South Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan.