KABUL, Afghanistan – Taliban spokesmen in Afghanistan denied Wednesday that the insurgent group’s leader Mullah Mohammed Omar had died, claiming that a phone message and a posting on the Internet were fake.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press that a text message sent to journalists on his behalf was the result of a phone hack.
“He is overseeing operations in the country,” he told the AP. He added that “outsiders must have hacked into Taliban phones and the website.” Mujahid blamed U.S. intelligence agencies, saying they were trying “to demoralize the Taliban.”
Rumors spread that Mullah Omar had died when the text message, allegedly sent from Mujahid, announced that the “Amir ul Mumineen,” or “commander of the Muslim faithful,” was dead. That title is reserved for the Taliban leader.
Afghan and coalition military officials also said they could not confirm the reports of his death.