New Afghan Taliban Leader Appeals For Unity. Vows To Continue The War

Photo: Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Taliban militants' new leader, is seen in this undated handout photograph by the Taliban. REUTERS/TALIBAN HANDOUT/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

Reuters: New Afghan Taliban leader appeals for unity in first public message

The new Afghan Taliban leader appealed for unity in the insurgency in his first public message released on Saturday amid reports his predecessor's family members opposed his selection.

The new head, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, was deputy for several years to the elusive one-eyed former leader Mullah Omar, who served as a unifying figure and a spiritual guide for the insurgency despite his absence.

This week the Taliban confirmed Omar had been dead for some time. The Afghan government said it was more than two years.

WNU Editor: The new Taliban leadership want to dispel rumors like this one .... Exclusive: Walkout at Taliban leadership meeting raises specter of split (Reuters).

More News On Taliban Leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour Appealing For Unity While Vowing To Continue The War

New Afghan Taliban leader appeals for unity among fighters in audio message -- The Telegraph
New Taliban Leader Says Insurgency Will Continue -- VOA
New Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour calls for unity -- BBC
New Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor vows to fight on -- Deutsche Welle