ISLAMABAD, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- There were unconfirmed reports that Abdullah Mehsud, a Pakistani tribal militant wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers in tribal area last October, died Friday evening from wounds sustained by him in a Pakistan Army operation in the country's North Waziristan tribal area on March 5,local media reported.

    A report of local leading English newspaper The News Monday said that a man phoned from an undisclosed location in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, Saturday to convey the information about Mehsud's death.

    He said Mehsud had suffered serious bullet injury in the chest during a military operation in the area on March 5.

    There was no way this piece of information could be confirmed. Government officials in North Waziristan said this could be an attempt to sidetrack the government's relentless military campaign to kill or capture Mehsud. They said that in the past also false news of the death of militants was spread to mislead the military.

    Pakistan military spokesman Shaukat Sultan said he was unable to confirm the reports about Mehsud's death.

    Mehsud had claimed responsibility for some of the most daring attacks on the Pakistan Army and government installations in tribal area. He ordered kidnapping of two Chinese engineers last October working in tribal area. One of the engineers was killed ina rescue operation mounted by Pakistan Army. Enditem