KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A key Taliban commander reportedly kicked out of the militia believes the dismissal order is a conspiracy against him and has not been signed off by Taliban leader Mullah Omar, his spokesman said Sunday.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid on Saturday said that Mansoor Dadullah, a militant commander in southern Afghanistan, had been kicked out of the Islamic militia for "disobeying orders'' and conducting activities "against the Taliban's rules and regulations.'' Mujahid did not provide any details.
A spokesman for Dadullah said Sunday that Dadullah has refused to accept the dismissal order, which he called a conspiracy.
"Mullah Omar is the Taliban supreme commander. We will always obey his orders. But this message, this order, is not from Mullah Omar,'' Muhibullah Mahajir told The Associated Press.
Mujahid reiterated on Sunday that the order came from Omar and said he would soon provide an audio clip with Omar ordering Dadullah out of the militia.
Dadullah rose in the militia's ranks as a key commander in southern Afghanistan after his brother, Mullah Dadullah, was killed during a military operation last May in Helmand province. Mullah Dadullah was the highest-ranking Taliban commander killed since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Canada has about 2,500 soldiers operating in southern Afghanistan.
