Ankara - Afghan warlord and former army chief Rashid Dostum has flown to Turkey to live in exile, Vatan newspaper reported on Thursday.

Vatan reported that Dostum, a leader of Afghanistan's Uzbek community whose forces fought both for and against the Taliban, flew to Turkey on a private plane provided by the Turkish government on Tuesday.

Dostum was a key figure in the government of President Hamid Karzai but was removed from his post as Chief of Staff of the Afghan military in February, after allegations that fighters loyal to Dostum had kidnapped a former ally turned rival.

According to Vatan, Karzai agreed to drop all charges against Dostum if he left the country.

Dostum's family have lived in the Turkish capital Ankara for a number of years. (dpa)