Pakistani intelligence service sources state that <name>Hakimullah Mehsud</name> leader of Fedayeen al-Islam has been killed in a fight for the leadership of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) an al-Qaeda ally.

The statement comes a day after public speculation of the death of TTP leader <name>Baitullah Mehsud</name> in a drone attack on the 5th of August. <name>Baitullah</name> and <name>Hakimullah</name> are cousins with <name>Hakimullah</name> serving as a deputy to <name>Baitullah</name>. The TTP is a coalition of disparate groups and without the charisma and leadership of Baitullah, appears to have fallen victim to internal feuding. According to sources <name>Hakimullah Mehsud</name> met with rival Taliban leader <name>Waliur Rehman</name> to determine the succession, word at the shura became heated and led to a gunfight that resulted in the death of <name>Hakimullah</name> and the serious wounding of <name>Rehman</name>.

<name>Hakimullah</name> had earlier issued statements denying <name>Baitullah's</name> death.