Kabul: The brother of the late figurehead of the Afghan Taliban today joined a growing challenge to the extremist group's newly appointed leader, even as it offered a statement purportedly quoting a well-known militant supporting him.

Mullah Abdul Manan, the brother of the late Mullah Mohammad Omar, told The Associated Press that new Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor was "selected" by a small clique of his own supporters. That comes after Mullah Omar's son, Yacoub, also warned Mansoor didn't have the support of the wider Taliban.