A pro-government tribal leader Turkestan Bittani Sunday claimed that fighting between rival groups for the leadership of Pakistani Taliban had left 24 rebels, including two possible successors to Baitullah Mehsud, dead.

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

According to Bittani, Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur 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.

However, Maulana Noor Saeed, one of the aides of Mehsud told Pakistan media Sunday that the reports of Baitullah's death are unfounded. He said Baitullah Mehsud is alive but he is ill.

According to Noor Saeed, Baitullah went to his father-in-law Ikramuddin's home last Wednesday. However, he had left the area before the drone strike occurred. Baitullah's wife, however, did die in the attack.