BBC News Online: World

Masood confirmed dead

Rumours of his death, circulating for several days, were confirmed by the head of the anti-Taleban Northern Alliance, Burhanuddin Rabbani, in a BBC interview.

But Mr Rabbani said Mr Masood had not died until Saturday.

Mr Masood's close aides repeatedly said he had been only slightly injured.

The attack, at Mr Masood's headquarters in the Panjshir Valley, occurred when two people purporting to be journalists set off an explosive device during an interview.