Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Sunday, August 15, 2021

Officials: Afghan president has left the country

By AP 15 August 2021, 5:12 pm Edit

In this UNTV image, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, president of Afghanistan, speaks in a pre-recorded video message during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 23, 2020, at UN headquarters. (UNTV via AP)

Two Afghan officials say President Ashraf Ghani has left the country.

The officials, one from former President Hamid Karzai’s office and another an aide on the Afghan security council, tells The Associated Press that Ghani has left. The officials speak on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to brief journalists.

Ghani left along with his National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib and a second close associate. It isn’t immediately clear where they went.

Meanwhile, the Taliban says it will further enter Kabul tonight after spending hours on the city’s outskirts.