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Afghanistan: Taliban announces identity of Mullah Omar’s successor

THE AFGHAN Taliban announced a new leader yesterday after confirming reports that Mullah Mohammed Omar had died.

A statement named Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansoor as the new leader and said that he was one of his predecessor’s most trusted followers.

On Wednesday, the Afghan government claimed that Mullah Omar had died in a Pakistani hospital in April 2013.

The Taliban confirmed his death the following day, but did not say when it had occurred. A statement attributed to Mullah Omar approving of recent peace talks with Kabul had been released just two weeks before.

The Taliban apparently pulled out of the latest negotiations in Pakistan after Wednesday’s statement, claiming to be unaware that a meeting had been scheduled. Pakistan has postponed the talks.

The Afghan Foreign Affairs Ministry said Kabul remained “committed” to the talks.

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