'US spy' beheaded in Pakistan

An Afghan cleric has been beheaded by militants in Pakistan after they accused him of spying for US forces fighting insurgents in Afghanistan.

Akhtar Usmani, 30, had spoken out against militancy in a Pakistani region on the Afghan border that some analysts say has been virtually handed over to pro-Taliban militants.

Mr Usmani was found dumped beside a road in South Waziristan.

"The body was in a big bag while his head was placed nearby in the open," said the region's deputy administrator, Amin Akbar Khan.

A note found with the body accused Mr Usmani of spying for the Americans, a second official said.

Pro-Taliban militants said Mr Usmani was a prayer leader in a mosque in North Waziristan and had criticised militancy.

"He recorded several cassettes in which he criticised us and the Taliban," a militant said by telephone.

He declined to comment when asked who had killed Mr Usmani.

Militants in North and South Waziristan have killed dozens of people they accused of being Pakistani government supporters or US spies.

Many Taliban and al-Qaeda militants fled to Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal lands from Afghanistan after US-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001.

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