Afghan TV notes anniversary of 1978 killing of president

[Presenter] Today marks the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan, and 39 members of his family.

A number of analysts believe that during Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan's terms of office as prime minister and president of Afghanistan, fundamental steps were taken for development in various fields.

My colleague Nurollah Rahmani has more on this:

[Passage omitted: Mohammad Daud Khan's biography, including how he toppled his cousin, the king, to found the republican system in Afghanistan.]

[Correspondent] At first, he was a strong nationalist personality with leftist ideologies, and therefore had close relations with the Parcham branch of Hezb-e Democratic Khalq-e Afghanistan party, and used them to succeed in his coup.

After his successful coup, cadres of the party were appointed to key posts. In the last years of his government, he distanced himself from Moscow and the leftist elements and even tried to eliminate them.

This led to the coup by the Hezb-e Democratic Khalq-e Afghanistan party on 7 Sowr 1357. The Hezb-e Democratic Khalq-e Afghanistan party finally killed him and 39 members of his family in that year.

Source: Tolo TV, Kabul, in Dari 1330 gmt 26 Apr 08

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