Taliban deny that their leader is dead

KABUL (AP) ― Taliban spokesmen are denying reports that the insurgent group’s leader Mullah Omar is dead.

Zabiullah Mujahid told the Associated Press on Wednesday that a text message sent to journalists on his behalf was fake and the result of a phone hack.

Rumors spread that Mullah Omar had died when an earlier text message allegedly sent from Mujahid announced on behalf of the group that the “Amir-ul-Momineen,” or “commander of the Muslim faithful,” was dead.

That title is reserved for the Taliban leader.

Another Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, also denied by phone to the AP that Mullah Omar has died.