Ghani says he left Afghanistan to avoid bloodshed

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Sunday he left the country in order to avoid bloodshed, as the Taliban entered the presidential palace in Kabul.

Ghani left in order to avoid clashes with the Taliban that would endanger millions of Kabul residents, he said in a Facebook post – his first comments since leaving the country.

“Taliban have won the judgement of sword and guns and now they are responsible for protecting the countrymen's honour, wealth and self-esteem,” he said. They have not won hearts, he added.

“Never in history has dry power given legitimacy to anyone and won't give it to them. Taliban now must prove to all the people, ethnicities, different sectors, sisters and women of Afghanistan to win the legitimacy and the hearts of the people.

Ghani added that he will continue to serve his nation.

Read more: Ghani flies out of Afghanistan as Kabul falls to Taliban

Ghani, along with his close aides, flew out of Afghanistan earlier in the day, paving way for Taliban to regain power 20 years after a US-led military invasion ousted them.

Shortly after his departure, Taliban commanders took control of the presidential palace in Kabul, saying they expected a total handover of power.