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| Tribal leader killed in Pakistan | Tribal leader killed in Pakistan |
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| A tribal leader who opposed the head of the Taliban in Pakistan has been shot dead in the north-western Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan, police said. | A tribal leader who opposed the head of the Taliban in Pakistan has been shot dead in the north-western Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan, police said. |
| Qari Zainuddin, 26, who often criticised Taliban head Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a gunman in his office early on Tuesday. | Qari Zainuddin, 26, who often criticised Taliban head Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a gunman in his office early on Tuesday. |
| Earlier this month, Zainuddin hit out at Mehsud for recent attacks in which civilians have been killed. | Earlier this month, Zainuddin hit out at Mehsud for recent attacks in which civilians have been killed. |
| Mehsud's group is blamed for a number of deadly attacks in Pakistan. | Mehsud's group is blamed for a number of deadly attacks in Pakistan. |
| Separately, Pakistani intelligence officials say a US drone aircraft has carried out a missile strike in South Waziristan, in an area known as a stronghold of Mehsud. | |
| Officials say that casualties are feared in the attack. | |
| The violence comes as the Pakistani army is preparing to launch a new offensive against Taliban fighters under Mehsud's command. | |
| An aide of Zainuddin who was also wounded in the attack that killed the tribal leader said a guard entered the room at Zainuddin's office after morning prayers and opened fire. | |
| "It was definitely Baitullah's man who infiltrated our ranks, and he has done his job," Baz Mohammad told the Associated Press news agency. | "It was definitely Baitullah's man who infiltrated our ranks, and he has done his job," Baz Mohammad told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Zainuddin was taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. | Zainuddin was taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. |
| 'Not a jihad' | 'Not a jihad' |
| Earlier this month, Zainuddin criticised Mehsud after an attack on a mosque which killed 33 people. | Earlier this month, Zainuddin criticised Mehsud after an attack on a mosque which killed 33 people. |
| He told Associated Press: "Whatever Baitullah Mehsud and his associates are doing in the name of Islam is not a jihad, and in fact it is rioting and terrorism". | He told Associated Press: "Whatever Baitullah Mehsud and his associates are doing in the name of Islam is not a jihad, and in fact it is rioting and terrorism". |
| "Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism," he had said. | "Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism," he had said. |
| Earlier this month a prominent Muslim cleric who was outspoken in his opposition to the Taliban was killed in a suicide blast at his seminary in Lahore. | Earlier this month a prominent Muslim cleric who was outspoken in his opposition to the Taliban was killed in a suicide blast at his seminary in Lahore. |
| Correspondents say Mehsud is thought to head the most powerful group of militants in the country, with a network of alliances with other militants. | Correspondents say Mehsud is thought to head the most powerful group of militants in the country, with a network of alliances with other militants. |
| His stronghold in South Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, is an area considered by many to be the hide-out of Osama Bin Laden. | His stronghold in South Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, is an area considered by many to be the hide-out of Osama Bin Laden. |