Gavin Grey: Afghan President flees Kabul, Taliban declares Islamic Emirate

Afghan officials say embattled President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country as the Taliban moved further into Kabul.Two officials speaking on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorized to brief journalists told The Associated Press that Ghani flew out of the country. Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the Afghan National Reconciliation Council, later confirmed Ghani had left in an online video."He left Afghanistan in a hard time, God hold him accountable," Abdullah said.Ghani's whereabouts and destination are currently unknown.Several news outlets are reporting the Taliban have taken over the Presidential Palace and Maulana Abdul Ghani has been declared as Afghanistan's new President.A Taliban official earlier said the group will declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in Kabul.That was the name of the country under the Taliban government ousted by US-led forces after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief media. And now these are the First visuals of #taliban inside the presidential palace #Afganistan #Kabul pic.twitter.com/geVIdZsbWc— Aishwarya Kapoor (@aishkapoor) August 15, 2021 The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended all operations and told Americans to shelter in place, saying it has received reports of gunfire at the international airport.British Forces from 16 Air Assault Brigade arrive in the Afghan capital of Kabul to assist in evacuating British nationals. Photo / Leading Hand Ben Shread, MOD via APThe US is racing to airlift diplomats and citizens out of Afghanistan after the Taliban overran most of the country and entered the capital early Sunday."The security situation in Kabul is changing quickly and the situation at the airport is deteriorating rapidly," the embassy said in a statement."There are reports of the airport taking fire and we are instructing US citizens to shelter in place. The US Embassy in Afghanistan has suspended consular operations effective immediately. Do not come to the Embassy or airport at this time." Security Alert ⬇️https://t.co/D5PEDKeOOA— U.S. Embassy Kabul (@USEmbassyKabul) August 15, 2021 Senior US military officials say Kabul's international airport has been closed to commercial flights as military evacuations continue.The suspension of commercial flights cuts off one of the last avenues to escape the country for Afghans fearful of Taliban rule. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations.The Taliban captured most of the country in a matter of days and swept into the capital on Sunday. #Taliban raise their flag above the Presidential palace in Kabul, #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/FgWHewy2T5— Roel Thijssen (@roelthijssen) August 15, 2021 Scenes of chaos played out at the airport earlier, as Afghans rushed to get on the last flights out of the country.Videos circulating online showed airport personnel struggling to coral crowds boarding a plane on the tarmac, while a man with an injured leg lay on the ground. In the background, a US Air Force plane was landing.Afghan leaders have created a coordination council to meet with the Taliban and manage the transfer of the power, after the religious militia's lightening offensive swept to the capital.In a statement posted on social media by former president Hamid Karzai, he said the body will be led by the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, as well as the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, Gulbudin Hekmatyar, and himself.Afghans wait in long lines for hours to try to withdraw money from the Kabul Bank as Taliban fighters enter the capital. Photo / Rahmat Gul, APThe statement said the move was "to prevent chaos and reduce the suffering of...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.