'Spies' killed by Pakistan Taliban

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A Pakistani Taliban video sent to the BBC shows the killing of five tribal men accused of aiding in the Jan. 19 death of al-Qaida leader Abu Laith al-Libi.

The five men died after being found guilty in a Taliban "trial," the report said.

They were accused of supplying information leading to the deaths of al-Libi and 11 others in a suspected U.S. missile strike in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area, seen as a sanctuary for al-Qaida and the Taliban, the report said.

The Taliban say the Pakistani government and "spies" in the tribal areas have been aiding in the U.S. effort.

Pir Mal, one of the five men killed, was quoted as allegedly confessing in the Taliban video sent to the BBC Urdu language service: "We planted the homing device in the house in which al-Libi and his men were to spend the night."

The video contained similar confessions from the other four men and also showed their decapitations, the report said, adding local tribal authorities confirmed finding their bodies.

A Pakistani army spokesman said the five were not in any way connected with the military, the report said.