Islamabad - The followers of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud were on Friday unable to find his successor after the warlord died in a missile attack carried out by US pilotless drone aircraft.

The Taliban were expected to officially announce Mehsud's death later Friday together with who would be his successor, but they did not manage to agree on the latter.

Among those under consideration are his spokesman Hakimullah Mehsud, Azmatullah, a regional commander in South Waziristan and Wali-ur-Rehman, Baitullah's first cousin and deputy.

Most shura members had agreed to choose Hakimullah, but some wanted to honour Baitullah, who had wished to see Wali-Ur-Rehamn as his successor, said another Taliban commander who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Pakistani government said it believed the Taliban leader was dead, but declined confirmation until further investigations were 100 per cent positive.

Mehsud's close aide and top commander, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said Baitullah Mehsud's funeral was held Wednesday afternoon and his body was later buried in his native Nargosey village, hours after the deadly US strike that also killed his wife.(dpa)