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• Baitullah Mehsud was a tribal leader in the Waziristan region of Pakistan who was linked to the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He is known to have worked with and aided both the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The U.S. Department of State has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. CNN: U.S. suspects Taliban leader behind Bhutto plot (December 29, 2007)

  On March 31, 2009, Mehsud claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Pakistani police academy. In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Mehsud warned that the Taliban would "soon....launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world."FOXNews.com: Taliban Chief Vows 'Amazing' Attack on Washington 'Soon' (March 31, 2009) The FBI has since discounted this claim, suggesting he took credit for the attack as a publicity stunt.FOXNews.com: FBI Discounts Taliban Claim of Responsibility for N.Y. Massacre (April 4, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Tribal militia leader in Waziristan, Pakistan
  2. Reportedly died of kidney failure in September 2008CNN: Man blamed for Bhutto killing is dead (September 29, 2008)
  3. Had links to the Taliban and Al Qaeda
  4. Was linked to December 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto
  5. May have been responsible for October 2007 attacks on Bhutto
  6. Thought to have commanded more than 20,000 militants
  7. Was paid $20 million in 2005 to declare a cease-fire with Pakistan
  8. About 5' tallReuters: Taliban leader sleeps badly at night (February 3, 2008)
  9. In March 2009, the U.S. Department of State offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of MehsudFox News: State: $5m Taliban reward (March 25, 2009)

• Alive or Dead?

  On September 29, 2008, Mehsud was reported to have died from kidney failure, although some intelligence sources were skeptical of the reports.CNN: Man blamed for Bhutto killing is dead (September 29, 2008) The Long War: Reports of Baitullah's death are false, sources say (September 30, 2008)

• Bhutto Assassination Link

  Mehsud was linked to Bhutto's assassination by a variety of sources. In a November 2007 interview with David Frost, Bhutto herself mentioned Mehsud by name as someone who might engineer her assassination.Wired: In a Prescient Interview, Bhutto Fingered Assassination Suspects (December 27, 2007) On the day after her death, Pakistani intelligence claimed to have strong evidence linking Mehsud to the shooting, gleaned from intercepted messages in which he congratulated unnamed terrorists for the assassination.VOA News: Pakistani Government Blames Al-Qaida for Bhutto Assassination (December 28, 2007) Mehsud repeatedly denied involvement, calling Bhutto's death "a tragedy."NDTV.com: Mehsud denies killing Bhutto (December 29, 2007)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Waziristan Conflict | Bhutto Assassinated | Al Qaeda | Taliban | Bhutto Bombs | Bhutto Cover-Up | Sherry Rehman

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