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                 Taliban IDs New Leader, Confirms Mansoor Death

   by Ayaz Gul

   Afghanistan's Taliban says Maulvi Haibatullah Akhundzada has been
   appointed the new chief of the group following the death of Mullah
   Akhtar Mansoor.

   In a Pashto language statement on Wednesday, the Tailban also formally
   confirmed Mansoor was killed in a U.S. drone attack last week.

   "Maulvi Haibatullah Akhundzada has been appointed as the new leader of
   the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) after a unanimous agreement in the shura
   (the supreme council), and all the members of shura pledged allegiance
   to him," the Taliban statement said.

   U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed on Monday that Mansoor was
   eliminated because he was blocking Afghan peace and reconciliation
   efforts.

   The new Taliban leader was a deputy to Mansoor along with Sirajuddin
   Haqqani, the leader of the notorious Haqqani network.

   Haqqani has retained his position while the son of the group's founder,
   Mullah Yaqoob, has been appointed as a second deputy to the new Taliban
   chief.

   The Taliban announcement coincided with a suicide blast in Kabul
   that killed at least ten people. The early morning attack apparently
   targeted a vehicle carrying Afghan judiciary staff, officials said.
   There are no immediate claims of responsibility.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/taliban-names-new-leader-confirms-man
   soor-death/3345019.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/taliban-names-new-leader-confirms-mansoor-death/3345019.html