File of man reported to be new head of Pakistani Taliban

(22 Aug 2009) SHOTLIST 1. Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud (third from left in light brown blanket) walking at the front of the group 2. Hakimullah Mehsud greeting supporters 3. Hakimullah Mehsud and supporters firing at aircraft, AUDIO: gunfire and cheering 4. Hakimullah Mehsud sitting on ground eating 5. Hakimullah Mehsud giving statement, surrounded by masked Taliban 6. Hakimullah Mehsud inside humvee, allegedly captured from American forces STORYLINE Leading Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud has been appointed the new head of the militant group, the aide to another commander said on Saturday. Bakht Zada, a close aide to commander Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, told The Associated Press that a 42-member Taliban council, or shura, appointed a new head because Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was ill. Washington and Islamabad have said Baitullah Mehsud was almost certainly killed by an August 5 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) missile strike, but