Pakistani Taliban fighters have secretly buried their leader after he was killed by a United States drone aircraft and have vowed a wave of suicide bombs in revenge.
Hakimullah Mehsud, who had a $US5 million bounty on his head, was killed with three others in a militant stronghold in northwest Pakistan after a meeting of Taliban leaders.
Pakistan's Government has denounced the killing as an American bid to derail planned peace talks and some politicians have demanded that US military supply lines into Afghanistan be blocked in response, Reuters reports.
Militants and security sources say Mehsud was secretly buried under cover of darkness in the early hours by a few companions amid fears his funeral might be attacked by US drones.
Security forces in Pakistan are on heightened alert for possible reprisal attacks.
The Taliban's number two Khan Said is now the movement's leader.
