New Pak Taliban chief may be SL attacker

Islamabad:

Pakistan's government says it's investigating reports that the man behind the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team is the new head of the Pakistani Taliban.

Militants say they selected a new chief on Saturday to succeed Baitullah Mehsud, who is believed to have been killed in a CIA missile strike earlier this month.

Two close aides to another commander told The Associated Press that a 42-member Taliban council, or shura, appointed a new head because Mehsud was ill.

The new chief is said to be Hakimullah Mehsud, a top commander known for his ruthless efficiency in staging attacks.

As military chief of Baitullah's Pakistani Taliban Movement, Hakimullah commanded three tribal regions and has a reputation as Baitullah's most ruthless deputy.

He claimed responsibility for the June 9 bombing of the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar, and the deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore earlier this year.