PAKISTAN TALIBAN NAME MAULANA FAZLULLAH AS NEW LEADER

A video released in July 2010 reportedly showed Maulana Fazlullah

Pakistan's Taliban have named Maulana Fazlullah as their new leader, after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack, a spokesman has said.

Mullah Fazlullah is a hardline chief from the Swat area whose men reportedly shot schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai.

Mehsud was killed when missiles struck his vehicle in the North Waziristan region on 1 November.

Pakistan's government accused the US of destroying its attempts to start peace talks with the Taliban.

Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan said that the strike was "not just the killing of one person, it's the death of all peace efforts".

The BBC's Richard Galpin in Islamabad says Mullah Fazlullah is likely to be very much opposed to any peace initiative.

The announcement was made by the Taliban's caretaker leader Asmatullah Shaheen at a press conference at an undisclosed location.

There was reportedly heavy celebratory gunfire in the Miranshah area when the news was announced.

Maulana Fazlullah led a brutal campaign in Swat between 2007 and 2009, enforcing hardline Islamic law that included burning schools, and public floggings and beheadings.

A military operation was launched to retake the area.


Prior to the latest announcement, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad said that Mullah Fazlullah was not a member of the Mehsud clan and, if appointed, would face a challenge to control the Mehsud fighters, who make up the bulk of the Taliban's manpower.