DHAKA: Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada has been announced as successor of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, the armed group's leader who died in a US drone strike.

The Taliban spokesman told Al Jazeera on Wednesday (May 26) that Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah Yaqub, son of former leader Mullah Omar, have been appointed the group's new deputy leaders.

“We confirm the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and after thorough discussion and meetings with the respected Taliban members among the group we’ve decided to name Haibatullah Akhunzada as our new leader," he told Al Jazeera.

The announcement followed confirmation on Monday by President Barack Obama that Mansoor was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan's chief executive, said on Twitter on Sunday that Mansoor was dead. Afghanistan's spy agency also said he had been killed.

Mansoor was chosen to head the Afghan Taliban last summer after it was announced that the group's longtime leader Mullah Omar had died two years earlier.

BDST: 0826 HRS, May 26, 2016
BD