New Afghan Taliban leader promises to continue insurgency

The new leader of the Afghan Taliban has called for unity among his fighters, promising to continue insurgency in his first message.

The audio message purportedly from Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor also included comments about peace talks, though it was not immediately clear whether he supported them or not.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid sent the audio to journalists and others on Saturday.

The Taliban on Thursday confirmed that former leader Mullah Omar had died and said they elected Mansoor as his successor.

The Afghan government announced on Wednesday that the reclusive mullah had been dead since April 2013.

Mullah Omar was the one-eyed, secretive head of the Taliban whose group hosted Osama Bin Laden’s al Qaida in the years leading up to the September 11 2001 attacks.