UAE says hosting Afghan president 'on humanitarian grounds'

The United Arab Emirates said on  Wednesday that it is hosting Afghan president Ashraf Ghani "on humanitarian  grounds", after he fled his country amid a Taliban takeover.

"The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can  confirm that the UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into  the country on humanitarian grounds," it said in a brief statement.

Mr Ghani left Afghanistan as the Taliban advanced on the capital city Kabul over the weekend. The UAE's foreign ministry said the country had welcomed Mr Ghani and his family on humanitarian grounds.

In a video address later on Wednesday, Mr Ghani denied fleeing and said he had left to prevent what he described as a "huge disaster". "For now, I am in the Emirates so that bloodshed and chaos is stopped," he said. "I am currently in talks to return to Afghanistan."

Mr Ghani also said rumours that he had travelled to the UAE with a large amount of money were "completely baseless" and "lies". The 72-year-old has faced intense criticism from other Afghan politicians for leaving the country.

"God will hold him accountable and the nation will also judge," said Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation.