The World - News from Oct. 18, 1987

Fifteen members of the Central Committee of Afghanistan’s Marxist ruling party were ousted in a purge of allies of former Afghan leader Babrak Karmal, who was replaced earlier by Najibullah. Kabul radio said Karmal’s half-brother, Mahmood Baryalai, and Anahita Ratebzad, a close associate of Karmal and long one of the top women in the Afghan leadership, were among those removed by the Central Committee of the People’s Democratic Party. New members were named to the Central Committee and the Politburo in changes apparently made to consolidate Najibullah’s power before a coming party conference.