Roundup: Cracks appear among Afghan Taliban following Mullah Omar's death

Taliban militants obviously have been divided into two factions after Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor succeeded Mullah Mohammad Omar as the hardliner group's new leader after confirmation of his death on Thursday, Afghan officials and local media reported Tuesday.

"Gun fighting has flared up in Dasht-e-Archi and Chardara districts of Kunduz province between supporters and opponents of Mullah Mansoor since the death of Mullah Omar," governor of Kunduz province Mohammad Omar Safi told Xinhua.

Mullah Mansoor's supporters had arrested Mawlawi Ahadi along with his 60 fighters, who was supporting Mullah Yaqub, the son of late Mullah Omar, against Mullah Mansoor to lead the Taliban group, he added.

Moreover, a source privy to Taliban in the northern Kunduz province said on Tuesday that Sayed Tayeb Agha, a close aide to Mullah Omar and head of Taliban liaison office in Qatar, has resigned to lobby Mullah Yaqub to succeed his father.

Fighting, according to local media report also broke out between supporters and opponents of Mullah Mansoor in Shindand district of the western Herat province on Monday, leaving nine people dead.

Amid reports of growing rift among Taliban militants, Hajji Zahir Qadir, first deputy of Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of the Afghan parliament, told local media on Monday night that Mullah Omar's son Mullah Mohammad Yaqub, 23, was assassinated by Taliban new leader Mullah Mansoor.

"Mullah Yaqub, the son of Mullah Omar, was killed a couple of days ago," the Daily Outlook newspaper reported in its Tuesday's edition, citing lawmaker Zahir Qadir.

Private TV channel Tolo has also reported Mullah Yaqub's death, quoting lawmaker Qadir.

Meantime, media reports suggested that Mullah Omar's son was under house arrest at the behest of Taliban's new leader Mullah Mansoor.

Taliban militants, however, have yet to make comment. Endi