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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Taliban leader Mullah Omar 'is dead' | Taliban leader Mullah Omar 'is dead' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has died, Afghan officials say, but the militant group has not commented on the claim. | The leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has died, Afghan officials say, but the militant group has not commented on the claim. |
| The reclusive leader died two to three years ago, Afghan government and intelligence sources said. No further details were released. | The reclusive leader died two to three years ago, Afghan government and intelligence sources said. No further details were released. |
| A Taliban spokesman contacted by the BBC said the group would issue a statement shortly. | A Taliban spokesman contacted by the BBC said the group would issue a statement shortly. |
| There have been several reports of Mullah Omar's death in the past. | There have been several reports of Mullah Omar's death in the past. |
| However, this is the first to be confirmed by top sources in the Afghan government. | However, this is the first to be confirmed by top sources in the Afghan government. |
| Mullah Omar led the Taliban to victory over rival Afghan militias in the civil war that followed the withdrawal of Soviet troops. | Mullah Omar led the Taliban to victory over rival Afghan militias in the civil war that followed the withdrawal of Soviet troops. |
| His alliance with al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden prompted the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. | His alliance with al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden prompted the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. |
| Mullah Omar has since been in hiding, with a $10m US state department bounty on his head. | Mullah Omar has since been in hiding, with a $10m US state department bounty on his head. |
| Over the years, the Taliban have released several messages purported to be from the fugitive leader. | Over the years, the Taliban have released several messages purported to be from the fugitive leader. |
| The latest of these statements, from mid-July, expressed support for peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. | |
| However, the message was in the form of a text published on a Taliban website, rather than an audio or video recording - fuelling rumours that the leader was dead or incapacitated. | |
| Mullah Mohammed Omar | Mullah Mohammed Omar |