Across Asia: Pakistan

Taliban says chief alive

The Pakistani Taliban yesterday denied reports that their leader died from injuries sustained in a US drone strike in mid-January, saying they would try to provide proof he is alive in the next few days.

The denial came a day after a state television report of Hakimullah Mehsud's death set off a flurry of speculation and prompted the government to announce it was investigating. The state TV report was apparently based on witnesses who said they had attended his funeral last week.

(China Daily 02/02/2010 page11)