ISLAMABAD - Questions swirled over the fate of Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud yesterday, with a Pakistani television channel reporting that he had died from an illness.

Taleban spokesmen, however, dismissed the report, while other sources said the warlord was seriously ill with diabetes, and might even be in a coma.

Mehsud is the militant commander whom the authorities accuse of being behind a wave of suicide attacks across the country, including the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in December.

An ethnic Pashtun tribesman in his mid-30s, Mehsud has denied involvement in the attack.

The Geo television channel reported late on Tuesday that Mehsud, who is based in the lawless Waziristan region on the Afghan border, had died from kidney failure after a long illness.

But Taleban spokesmen denied it.

'Our leadership is fine and healthy,' said one spokesman.

A close aide to Mehsud said the commander had been sick some time ago but was fine. 'He is a diabetic and had typhoid a few months ago, but he is all right now.' -- REUTERS