Islamabad, Aug 9 (DPA) A pro-government tribal leader Sunday claimed that fighting between rival groups for the leadership of Pakistani Taliban had killed 24 rebels, including two possible successors to warlord Baitullah Mehsud.

The top Taliban commander was believed killed along with his younger wife in a US missile attack on his father-in-law's house Wednesday.

Turkestan Bittani told news channels that Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman exchanged fire at a meeting of shura, Taliban's advisory council which was choosing a successor to Mehsud in the lawless tribal district of South Waziristan.

'Twenty-one more people also died in the clashes that still continue in various areas,' said Bittani, a Taliban defector and old rival of Baitullah Mehsud. Among the dead was Qari Hussain, a powerful commander and in charge of Mehsud's suicide bombers squad, he said.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the BBC that the government had received reports of the scuffle and death of Hakimullah.

'They had been fighting in the past and we have information that there has been enmity between Wali and Hakimullah since they were together in Kurram valley,' he said.

However, a Taliban commander in South Waziristan denied the reports.

'There must be some differences between the two but no fighting took place. The government and our rivals are fabricating the stories,' said Noor Saeed. 'Neither Hakimullah died nor Wali.'

Neither of the claims could be independently confirmed because of the restrictions on media from Taliban and Pakistani government on reporting from the conflict area.