Profile: Mullah Mohammed Omar

Mullah Mohammed Omar was a reclusive figure even before his Taliban government was driven from power in late 2001 and he was forced into hiding - very few images of him exist.There have been several reports in the past that Mullah Omar had died. Afghan government sources have now told the BBC that he has been dead for two or three years, although this has not been confirmed by the Taliban.In April the Taliban published a biography of Mullah Omar, saying he was alive and still supreme leader of the movement, as he had been since 1996.A statement purporting to be from Mullah Omar was released in July backing peace talks with the Afghan government. The last audio message thought to be from him appeared in 2006 but even this was leaked and not meant for public consumption.He had not made a public appearance in very many years and former BBC journalist David Loyn - one of very few Westerners ever to have seen him - said that even among other Taliban, he did stand out.It was Mullah Omar's ba...