Afghan Rebel Rockets Mark Soviet Invasion Anniversary

Afghan rebels marked the 10th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan on Wednesday by rocketing Kabul and vowing to continue the struggle to overthrow the government that Moscow put in place.

Kabul Radio said an unspecified number of rockets struck the Afghan capital, wounding 18 people and causing considerable damage. Eight people were killed Tuesday when 30 rockets hit the city in one of the largest recent barrages.

The moujahedeen rebels held rallies in refugee camps in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier province, home to more than 3 million people who fled across the border after Soviet troops poured into Kabul in late 1979 to install Babrak Kamal in power.

“We will continue our struggle until the puppet regime collapses,” Sibghatullah Mojaddidi, president of the Afghan interim government, told a rally at the Nasirbagh camp near Peshawar, home of the government-in-exile.

In New Delhi, about 250 Afghan refugees shouting “Death to Russia!” held a protest Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the Soviet invasion.

Observances were also held Wednesday in Moscow. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located against the Kremlin Wall, a military brass band played the national anthem as an honor guard marched in formation, the Soviet news agency Tass said.

Metropolitan Pitirim of the Russian Orthodox Church led a memorial service at the Resurrection Church.

The Soviet Union says it lost about 14,000 soldiers in the nine-year war before pulling out its troops last February.