Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud claimed responsibility for the brazen attack on a police academy in Lahore and threatened to carry out more such strikes unless Islamabad withdraws troops from tribal areas and drone attacks cease in the troubled NWFP.

Mehsud, on whom the US has announced a bounty of USD 5 million, made the claim to the media from an undisclosed location, even as the prime suspect in Monday's assault has said that all his accomplices were from the tribal areas.

Pakistani authorities, who have stepped up vigil in this eastern Pakistani city as well as other major urban areas in the wake of growing terrorist attacks, said three more "local facilitators" have been arrested.

Director General of Pakistan Rangers General Yakub Khan said three more arrest had been made on the information provided by the captured militant Gul Khan alias Ishrat Khan.

Though there were claims on Mondayof six terrorists having been captured alive, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, who is part of the investigation team, said there were only five attackers. There appeared to be only five attackers –three blew themselves up to avoid capture, one managed to escape and the fifth one was Khan, he said.

"Khan belongs to Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud's group and came to Lahore from Afghanistan a few months ago. He carried out the attack with his fellow countrymen in connivance with local facilitators," Sukhera said.

Khan and his accomplices had rented a house in Manawan, where the training centre is located, a couple of weeks ago to prepare for the attack.

... contd.