Pakistan militant mourns loss of al-Qaeda commander

A former spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban says an al-Qaeda commander killed by a CIA drone strike played an important role in the 'war against America.'

Azam Tariq told The Associated Press by phone today that the "martyrdom" of Ahmed Farouq was a great loss.

Speaking from an undisclosed location in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region, Tariq says he "personally knew" Farouq, and described him as the deputy chief of al-Qaida's South Asian affiliate.

He says Farouq had "a very important role in the war against America."

The US government earlier revealed that Farouq and another US-born militant, as well as an American and an Italian held hostage by al-Qaeda, were inadvertently killed by CIA drone strikes earlier this year.