By Henry Martin For MailonlinePublished: 13:53 EDT, 18 August 2021 | Updated: 13:56 EDT, 18 August 2021Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says he left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denied reports he took large sums of money with him as he departed the presidential palace. Ghani has been bitterly criticised by former ministers for leaving the country suddenly as Taliban forces entered Kabul on Sunday. Speaking from exile in the United Arab Emirates today, Ghani said in a video streamed on Facebook: 'If I had stayed, I would be witnessing bloodshed in Kabul.' The address is his first public comment since it was confirmed he was in the UAE. He insisted was no truth to allegations that he escaped with 'suitcases of cash', saying it was all part of a 'personality assassination'.

Source: The Nation August 18, 2021 18:00 UTC