Suicide attack on Taliban breakaway faction kills 4 in S. Afghan

At least four people were killed and five others injured as a suicide car bomb targeted a breakaway faction of Taliban in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, the provincial government said on Wednesday.

According to a statement of the government, the attack occurred in Saminar Dasht area of Gereshk district at around 9:00 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) and all the victims were supporters of the Taliban faction led by Mullah Mohammad Rasoul Akhund.

Mullah Rasoul's spokesman Mullah Niazi has yet to make comments on the casualties.

Taliban in Afghanistan has been divided since the death of its leader Mullah Mansoor in May last year.

The group has been under the control of Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, but his rival Mullah Rasoul has been challenging Haibatullah's leadership. Since then supporters of the two Mullahs have been fighting occasionally.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)