Mullah Omar's family refuses to back new Taliban leader

Kabul

 The family of deceased Taliban leader Mullah Omar has refused to pledge allegiance to his successor, calling on religious scholars to settle a deepening rift within insurgent ranks over the power transition.

 Mullah Akhtar Mansour was announced as the new Taliban chief on Friday after the insurgents confirmed the death of Mullah Omar, who led the militant movement for some 20 years.

 But, splits immediately emerged between Mansour and those who challenged his appointment, including the late leader’s son Yakoub and his brother, Mullah Abdul Manan.

 "Our family... has not declared allegiance to anyone amid these differences," Manan said in an audio message released on Sunday, without naming Mansour.

 "We want the ulema (religious scholars) to resolve the differences rather than declaring allegiance to any side," said the audio message, which Taliban sources confirmed was from Manan.

 "Our family will serve the new leader... if he is elected with consensus."

 The comments highlight the Taliban's biggest leadership crisis in recent years at a time when the rival Islamic State group is making gradual inroads into Afghanistan.

 Mansour on Saturday called for unity in the Taliban in his first audio message since becoming head of the group, in comments apparently aimed at averting a factional split.

 A Taliban source said Yakoub and several other members of the Taliban's ruling council walked out of the meeting at which Mansour was declared leader, refusing to pledge loyalty to him.

 "Part of the insurgency is troubled and needs answers from Mansour and his allies: why did they hide Mullah Omar's death all these years? Did they deceive us by putting out fake statements in his name just to serve their own interests?" he said.