Clashes between fighters loyal to Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud and a rival pro-government group in northwestern Pakistan's tribal belt have killed at least 70 fighters, two intelligence officials and a militant commander said Wednesday. The fighting broke out in the Jandola area, just outside Mehsud's stronghold in South Waziristan, between Mehsud's group and that of Turkistan Bitani, a tribal warlord allied with the government. In telephone calls to The Associated Press, Bitani put the total casualty figure at 90 fighters, and said more than 40 houses were destroyed. He claimed the fighting broke out when Mehsud's militants attacked. The fighting came one week after a US missile strike in South Waziristan reportedly killed Mehsud, according to the government. But several Taleban fighters have disputed that, insisting Mehsud is alive. Neither side has produced proof and since the claims of Mehsud's death, both the Taleban and the government have been waging competing propaganda campaigns over the state of the Taleban's leadership.
