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Taliban leader Mullah Omar 'is dead' Taliban conflict: Afghanistan probes Mullah Omar 'death' claim
(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 Afghan government is investigating new reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar has died, a spokesman said.
The reclusive leader died two to three years ago, Afghan government and intelligence sources said. No further details were released. The Taliban has yet to comment on the claim, which was made by top sources within the Afghan administration and intelligence agency.
A Taliban spokesman contacted by the BBC said the group would issue a statement shortly. The sources said the reclusive militant leader had died two to three years ago.
There have been several reports of Mullah Omar's death in the past. The latest claims of Mullah Omar's death are being taken more seriously than previous such reports. The Taliban is expected to issue a statement soon.
However, this is the first to be confirmed by top sources in the Afghan government. A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Thursday that the authorities were trying to verify the reports.
"As soon as we get any more authentication... we're going to let the media and the people of Afghanistan know about that," Sayed Zafar Hashemi said.
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 (£6.4m;€9m) 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.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.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.
The failure to prove that Mullah Omar was alive was a major factor behind the defection of several senior Taliban commanders to the so-called Islamic State group, according to the BBC's former Kabul correspondent, David Loyn.The failure to prove that Mullah Omar was alive was a major factor behind the defection of several senior Taliban commanders to the so-called Islamic State group, according to the BBC's former Kabul correspondent, David Loyn.
Mullah Mohammed OmarMullah Mohammed Omar