Afghan exiles angrily mark Karmal coup

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 8

Afghan exiles angrily mark Karmal coup

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi President Babrak Karmal of Afghanistan yesterday marked his first year in office after being installed in a Soviet - backed coup d’etat with a call for peace to his neighbours while Afghan exiles in other parts of the world staged angry protests. Kabul radio, monitored in New Delhi, quoted Mr Karmal as saying: “We want to live in peace with our neighbours and solve our problems through negotiations.” “We once again propose to Pakistan and Iran to sit down at the negotiating table and solve problems by peaceful means,” the Soviet news agency, Tass, quoted him as saying. The call is similar to one made previously this year and rejected by Pakistan and

Iran until the Russians leave. Kabul radio, however, made no mention of a strike called by anti-Soviet rebel groups in the Afghan capital to coincide with the anniversary of Soviet intervention in their country. There were well-publicised protests elsewhere. In Teheran some 5000 Afghans stormed the Soviet Embassy and battled with Revolutionary Guards before being ejected. One demonstrator was reported to have been wounded by gunfire. After leaving the Soviet Embassy they marched to the Afghan mission and became involved in further scuffles with guards. A similar protest was staged by about 250 Afghans in New Delhi.

There were apparently no big celebrations in Kabul to mark the occasion except a meeting addressed by Mr Karmal.

“Today is the first anniversary of the new phase of the Saur (April) Revolution,” Kabul radio said in opening remarks on its main news bulletin.

The radio also announced that two groups of political prisoners totalling about 100 had been released. They were apparently granted amnesty as a part of the anniversary celebrations although the radio did not say so. Three of the six news items broadcast by the radio concerned the arrest or “liquidation” of rebels operating in different parts of the country.