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Afghan Taleban commander killed Afghan Taleban commander killed
(40 minutes later)
The Taleban's top military commander in Afghanistan, Mullah Dadullah, has been killed in fighting in the south of the country, officials say.The Taleban's top military commander in Afghanistan, Mullah Dadullah, has been killed in fighting in the south of the country, officials say.
They say he died in a clash with Afghan and Western forces in Helmand province.They say he died in a clash with Afghan and Western forces in Helmand province.
Soldiers later took the body to the city of Kandahar, where it was seen by a BBC reporter. Soldiers took the body to the city of Kandahar, where it was shown to reporters.
Mullah Dadullah recently told the BBC that he had hundreds of suicide bombers awaiting his orders to launch an offensive against foreign troops. The BBC's Afghanistan correspondent says Mullah Dadullah's death will be a major blow to the Taleban, who were slow to respond to the reports.
Suicide bombings in Afghanistan have soared since late 2005. Mullah Dadullah's name has been linked with the beheading of suspected spies, controlling the guerrilla war in Helmand Province, dispatching suicide bombers and the kidnapping of westerners, including an Italian journalist and two French aid workers, both of which have since been released.
Mullah Dadullah recently told the BBC that he had hundreds of suicide bombers awaiting his orders to launch an offensive against foreign troops. Suicide bombings in Afghanistan have soared since late 2005.
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Mullah Dadullah has been linked to several recent kidnappings in southern Afghanistan. Our correspondent, Alastair Leithead, says the commander has produced videos showing beheadings of foreign hostages.
The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in Herat, in western Afghanistan, says the commander has produced videos showing beheadings of foreign hostages.
Previous reports of his death or capture had proved untrue, but officials displayed the body to confirm the killing.Previous reports of his death or capture had proved untrue, but officials displayed the body to confirm the killing.
MULLAH DADULLAH Key Taleban military leaderBrutal and extreme leaderLost a leg fighting Soviets in 1980sThought to be in his 40sHero in eyes of Taleban rank and file
It was not immediately clear if the commander was killed as part a major operation in Helmand province launched in early March by Nato's International Security Assistance Force and Afghan troops.It was not immediately clear if the commander was killed as part a major operation in Helmand province launched in early March by Nato's International Security Assistance Force and Afghan troops.
For many years Mullah Dadullah has been known to be one of the most brutal and extreme Taleban leaders.
In the last 12 months he has become perhaps the most significant military commander in Afghanistan, certainly in the south where the close quarters fighting has been most intense, our correspondent says.
But it is difficult to asses the impact of his death on the insurgency, our correspondent says, because the Taleban's command structures are loose and fighters often operate in small, self-contained units.
'Top commander''Top commander'
Mullah Dadullah was a member of the Taleban's 10-man leadership council before the US-led invasion in 2001.Mullah Dadullah was a member of the Taleban's 10-man leadership council before the US-led invasion in 2001.
He has been called "Afghanistan's top Taleban commander" by Nato officials, and is high on the US list of most-wanted people in the country.He has been called "Afghanistan's top Taleban commander" by Nato officials, and is high on the US list of most-wanted people in the country.
Mullah Dadullah lost one of his legs as a mujahideen fighter against the Soviet occupation troops in the 1980s and has since used an artificial limb.Mullah Dadullah lost one of his legs as a mujahideen fighter against the Soviet occupation troops in the 1980s and has since used an artificial limb.
He had the reputation of a fearless man.He had the reputation of a fearless man.
Despite his disability, he fought and led major battles for the Taleban against the rival Northern Alliance forces during the 1990s.Despite his disability, he fought and led major battles for the Taleban against the rival Northern Alliance forces during the 1990s.
He was one of the first Taleban commanders to organise attacks against US-led coalition forces after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.He was one of the first Taleban commanders to organise attacks against US-led coalition forces after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
And he was the first Taleban commander to give interviews to print and electronic media after the fall of the regime.And he was the first Taleban commander to give interviews to print and electronic media after the fall of the regime.
Unlike other Taleban leaders who never allowed themselves to be photographed for religious and security reasons, Mullah Dadullah did just the opposite.Unlike other Taleban leaders who never allowed themselves to be photographed for religious and security reasons, Mullah Dadullah did just the opposite.
He granted an interview to the Arabic television channel al-Jazeera.He granted an interview to the Arabic television channel al-Jazeera.
Occasionally he called journalists, including those from the BBC in Afghanistan and Pakistan, on his satellite phone to provide information about Taleban attacks and issue new threats against foreign and Afghan forces.Occasionally he called journalists, including those from the BBC in Afghanistan and Pakistan, on his satellite phone to provide information about Taleban attacks and issue new threats against foreign and Afghan forces.
Correspondents say his death will be a huge setback for the Taleban.