Security officials in Afghanistan say the Taliban's top operational commander, Mullah Dadullah, has been killed in fighting in the south of the country.
They said he died in clashes with Afghan and Western forces in Helmand province.
His body was later taken to the city of Kandahar and shown to reporters.
Apart from leading most Taliban attacks in the south, Dadullah was also believed to be behind a series of kidnappings of foreigners and Afghans.
There have been several reports over recent years that Dadullah had been killed or captured.
