Fierce fighting is continuing between Afghan forces and the Taliban in parts of Afghanistan's northern city of Kunduz, despite government claims that it had regained control of the city.

Taliban fighters seize a military hilltop site in Kunduz, tightening their grip on the northern Afghan city.

Afghan forces have begun an operation to retake the city of Kunduz, after suffering a major military reverse when it was seized by the Taliban on Monday.

A dispute that threatened to split the Afghan Taliban has been resolved after relatives of late leader Mullah Omar backed his successor, the group says.

The new leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, calls for unity in an audio message, saying that the group will continue fighting.

The Afghan government is investigating new reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar has died, a spokesman said.