Resigned Ashraf Ghani: Taliban Won by Judgement of Sword

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Resigned Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani announced that he fled the country to "avoid bloodshed," admitting that "The Taliban have won."

Ghani, who did not disclose his location, said a large number of civilians would have been killed and that Kabul would have been destroyed had he remained in Afghanistan.

He said, "Today, I came across a hard choice; I should stand to face the armed Taliban who wanted to enter the palace or leave the dear country that I dedicated my life to protecting the past twenty years."

"Taliban have won by the judgement of sword and guns, and now they are responsible for protecting the countrymen's honor, wealth, and self-esteem," Ghani added in a Facebook statement.

The former President said the Taliban were willing to launch an attack on Kabul and its people to overthrow him, saying he thought it was best to get out to avoid bloodshed.

A Taliban official said Sunday that the movement would soon declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

Earlier today, the Taliban announced capturing the Afghan presidential palace and entering it in Kabul following Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's departure from Afghanistan toward Tajikistan - information not confirmed by the Afghan government.