Afghan Taliban Picks up Successor After Mullah Omar's Death: Sources

PESHAWAR: The Afghan Taliban have appointed Akhtar Mohammad Mansour as leader of the insurgency, two Afghan commanders present at a meeting of the militant movement's most senior figures said today, following reports that Mullah Omar is dead.

"The shura held outside Quetta unanimously elected Mullah Mansour as the new emir of the Taliban," said one commander who attended the Wednesday night meeting. "The shura will release a statement shortly."

The Afghan government announced yesterday that Omar died more than two years ago.