Daily Mail: Taliban appoint new leader as family of former commander Mullah Omar say he died from an 'unspecified illness'
* Akhtar Mohammed Mansour thought to have been named Supreme Leader
* Known as a moderate who is keen on a peace deal with Pakistani officials
* Appointment has thought to have caused a rift with more militant leaders
* Comes as letter thought to be from family of Omar says he died of illness
The Taliban have appointed a successor to leader Mullah Omar just a day after the Afghan government revealed he has been dead for the last two years.
Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour, Omar's former deputy, has reportedly been elevated to the rank of 'Supreme Leader', sources close to the Taliban said.
Mansour was the former minister for civil aviation when the Taliban controlled Afghanistan from 1993 to 2001 before going into hiding following the American invasion.
More News On The The Death Of Taliban Leader Mullah Omar (Updated)
Taliban Announce New Leader, and Pick 2 Deputies From Hard-Line Wing -- NYT
Afghan Taliban announces new leader -- L.A. Times
The Afghan Taliban Has Elected a New Leader After Mullah Omar’s Death -- Time
Taliban Announces New Leader as Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor -- NBC
Afghan Taliban Praise New Leader in Effort to Rally Ranks -- AP
Taliban Announce New Leadership -- VOA
Taliban leader Mullah Omar is dead. Here's why that matters. -- Zack Beauchamp, VOX
Taliban leader Omar’s tale reflects clashing agendas -- Greg Miller, Washington Post
After Mullah Omar, Taliban leaders face a legitimacy crisis -- Michael Wahid Hanna, Al Jazeera
The Afghan Taliban enter uncharted territory -- Dawood Azami, BBC
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