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Taliban infighting leaves five killed in Zabul
Fighting between the two rival militant groups in southern Zabul province of Afghanistan left at least five Taliban fighters dead and three others injured.
The clashes occurred between the supporters of the Taliban new supreme leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour and a senior Taliban military commander Mullah Mansour Dadullah who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in Arghandab district of Zabul province, Fawad Askari provincial police chief spokesman said on Sunday.
The infighting began late on Saturday night, Askari added.
Earlier reports emerged that Mansour supporters had besieged Dadullah in Khak Afghan district of Zabul after he refused to pledge allegiance to Mansour as the Taliban’s new leader to replace the late founder and longtime chief Mullah Mohammad Omar.
After Omar’s death, the Taliban leadership council elected Mullah Mansour as the new leader, but Omar’s family and a number of supporters opposed the election.
Taliban group has yet to comment about the incident.