Both the United States and the Pakistani authorities believe that Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, was killed when US drones struck the home of his father-in-law. Local tribesmen report that on Wednesday two missiles struck the house, which is in the Laddah area of South Waziristan, killing his bodyguards and one of his wives.

Mehsud is considered the mastermind of dozens of suicide attacks in Pakistan which have killed some 2,000 people. He is also been implicated in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The Taliban say he had nothing to do with the killing of Ms Bhutto. Her People's Party says the Pakistani government was involved in the assassination and that placing responsibility on Mehsud was a diversionary tactic.

Baitullah Mehsud (Wikipedia)