ISLAMABAD : Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud has warned the government of dire consequences if US drone missile strikes continued, media reports said on Saturday. In an audio message, purportedly of Mehsud, sent to reporters via e-mail late on Friday, the militant 'commander' said the media was being used by "our enemies" to spread rumours that he had been killed.

Some media reports recently suggested that Mehsud had been killed in a drone strike in the South Waziristan tribal district on Thursday. But there has been no confirmation from Pakistan officials, or the Taliban, of his death. It is not clear whether the audio message was recorded before or after Thursday.

"The Pakistan government is letting the blood of innocent people be shed in return for dollars," Hakimullah said. "We are forced to take revenge on the Pakistan government for the killing of innocents." The US military has increased its missile attacks against Taliban and al Qaeda in Pakistan's tribal region. There have been 10 drone strikes this month alone. In the latest attacks, 11 people were killed and several more injured in two separate strikes late Friday.

Five people were killed and three injured when a US drone fired four missiles on a house in Mir Ali area in North Waziristan. Six people died in the second attack that took place in Mirkhani, an area along the border of North and South Waziristan.

The US missile campaign has eliminated dozens of Taliban and al Qaeda militants, but it has also killed many civilians. Islamabad officially condemns the US strikes, but many analysts believe the country's military and intelligence agencies are aiding the US intelligence services with information on possible targets.