Top Islamic militant believed dead

Intelligence officials said the al-Qaida-linked leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is believed to have been killed by a US missile strike in Pakistan's north west.

The Taliban have denied the claim.

Tahir Yuldash's death would be a significant blow to the militant groups that have wreaked havoc along the Afghan-Pakistan border and the latest victory for the covert American missile programme.

The four intelligence officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media, said Yuldash was wounded in an August 27 missile strike in the South Waziristan tribal region and is believed to have died a few days later.

Many Uzbek militants hide in Pakistan's tribal regions.