World Digest: Maulvi Faqir Mohammad Takes Pakistan Taliban Reins

PAKISTAN

Taliban Deputy Takes Command

The deputy head of the Pakistani Taliban announced Wednesday that he was temporarily assuming leadership of the militant group because its chief, who Washington and Islamabad have said was almost certainly killed by a recent missile strike, was unwell.

The announcement by Maulvi Faqir Mohammad is another sign that Taliban commanders are jockeying for power after the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud in a CIA missile strike Aug. 5 in northwestern Pakistan's tribal belt. A captured Taliban spokesman reportedly told authorities this week that Mehsud was dead, but other commanders have insisted he is alive.

Mohammad also said that Mehsud was alive but that he was too ill to lead Pakistan's Taliban.

"I was the deputy leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban, and now, since Baitullah Mehsud is unable to perform as head of the organization due to health reasons and unable to come on the foreground, I am announcing I am assuming the role of acting chief," Mohammad told the Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location.

He stressed that his appointment is temporary and said the final decision on who would replace Mehsud would rest with a 42-member Taliban council, known as a shura.

-- Associated Press

Musharraf Avoids Treason Charges

Pakistan's prime minister on Wednesday effectively ruled out bringing treason charges against the country's former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf.

Pakistan's Supreme Court recently ruled that Musharraf's imposition of a state of emergency in 2007 was unconstitutional, a decision that raised the possibility that he could be accused of treason.

But Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani had said such charges would be brought against Musharraf only if Parliament passed a unanimous resolution requesting them.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday night, Gillani said the opposition parties did not have enough votes to pass the resolution, indicating that his own party would not vote in favor.

"We should not reopen dead issues," Gillani said.