Pak police claim Mehsud's close aides killed

Karachi: Pakistani police claimed to have killed five close accomplices of top Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in Karachi on Friday night.

City police chief Waseem Ahmed said the five persons were killed when they refused to surrender and engaged the police team which raided the militant hide out near Gadap town, located near the national highway.

"Five other persons managed to escape and we are in their pursuit," he said.

The police official said the five killed were close accomplices of Tehreek-e-Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud who is on the most wanted list of the Pakistan and United States governments.

"We have recovered heavy ammunition and explosive materials from the site where these people were hiding," Ahmed said.

He said the suspected terrorists were hiding in the area under the garb of displaced people from Swat valley where the military has launched a major offensive against the Taliban since last April.

Police said the raid had taken place on the confession of certain terrorists arrested earlier from the city.