Pearl killed after escape attempt, militants claim

THREE Pakistani militants who led police to the body of Daniel Pearl claim the Wall Street Journal journalist was murdered by an Arab two days after he tried to escape from kidnappers, investigators said yesterday.

The claims about the killing of the 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter do not exonerate British-born militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted with three others on July 15.

Saeed was sentenced to death by hanging and the others received life sentences. However, the fresh allegations could influence the appeal filed by Saeed and the others with the High Court in Sindh province.