Taliban official quits amid growing leadership struggle following news of death of Mullah Omar

A top Taliban official announced his resignation on Tuesday amid a growing leadership struggle in the Afghan insurgent movement after the news of the death of leader Mullah Mohammad Omar last week.

The swift announcement that Omar's longtime deputy, Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansoor, would be the new leader has riled many senior figures angry about the implication that Mansoor covered up Omar's death for more than two years.

The infighting could split the Taliban and threatens tentative peace talks with the Kabul government to end 13 years of war that began with a U.S.-led campaign after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Since Mansoor's appointment was announced by the Taliban leadership council based in Quetta, Pakistan, it has been denounced by several top members of the group, including Omar's own brother.

On Tuesday, Taliban official Syed Mohammad Tayab Agha announced he was stepping down as director of the Political Office in the Qatari capital Doha, originally set up to enable the Taliban to negotiate in any peace process.

Agha said he considered the decision to conceal Omar's death - generally attributed to Mansoor - a "historic mistake by the individuals concerned".

"Now, as the leader is appointed outside the country and from the people who are residing outside the country is also considered as a great historical mistake," he said in a statement.

He said previous leaders appointed outside the country going back to the invasion by Soviet forces, and the government set up after the Taliban were ousted, had "very bad repercussions".

The leader should be appointed "in presence of the courageous mujahedeen in their strongholds inside the country", Agha said, referring to Islamist fighters.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he could not confirm the statement came from Agha.

Previously, members of the Doha office had objected to Mansoor's reported decision to send his delegation to the first official peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government representatives last month in Pakistan.

Considered close to Pakistan, Mansoor faces a challenge to hold the movement together with hardline commanders pressing for an end to talks and the continuation of fighting that has been increasingly successful in recent months.

It remains difficult to assess how serious a threat Mansoor faces but the difficulties point to a suspension of the peace process while his position is consolidated. Several commanders are known to have stopped fighting until the situation is clarified.

Perhaps in reaction to the dissent, the Taliban posted videos on Facebook, apparently showing worshippers acclaiming Mansoor as leader.