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| Taliban conflict: Afghanistan probes Mullah Omar 'death' claim | Taliban conflict: Afghanistan probes Mullah Omar 'death' claim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Afghan government is investigating new reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar has died, a spokesman said. | The Afghan government is investigating new reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar has died, a spokesman said. |
| The Taliban has yet to comment on the claim, which was made by top sources within the Afghan administration and intelligence agency. | The Taliban has yet to comment on the claim, which was made by top sources within the Afghan administration and intelligence agency. |
| The sources said the reclusive militant leader had died two to three years ago. | The sources said the reclusive militant leader had died two to three years ago. |
| 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. | 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. |
| A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday that the authorities were trying to verify the reports. | A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday 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. | "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. |
| The Afghan government, elected last year, has embarked on a peace process with the Taliban. | The Afghan government, elected last year, has embarked on a peace process with the Taliban. |
| A security official in Pakistan, the country hosting the talks, told the Associated Press news agency that the claims of Mullah Omar's death were mere "speculation", designed to destabilise the negotiations. | A security official in Pakistan, the country hosting the talks, told the Associated Press news agency that the claims of Mullah Omar's death were mere "speculation", designed to destabilise the negotiations. |
| Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi, quoted by Sky News, said that Mullah Omar was "still alive and leading the movement". | |
| But a second spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told the BBC a statement would be made in the coming hours. | |
| Who is Mullah Omar? | |
| 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 (£6.4m) 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 the peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. | The latest of these statements, from mid-July, expressed support for the 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 Omar | Mullah Mohammed Omar |