Afghan memorial marks 10-years since the death of war hero
- 13 years ago
A parade in Kabul to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Masood, former leader of the Northern Alliance.
Masood was assassinated two days before the 2001 World Trade Centre attacks by two suicide bombers posing as journalists. The explosives were hidden in their camera.
The ceremony was attended by Afghan Vice President Marshal Fahim, along with other top government officials.
Masood's brother thanked the people of Afghanistan for the memorial.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) AHMAD WALI MASOOD BROTHER OF LATE AHMAD SHAH MASOOD:
"I am very proud today that the great people of Afghanistan indeed celebrate this day. In a good way, we are thankful to the people of Afghanistan for their celebration."
Ahmad Masood was a leading member of the Mujahideen holy warriors who fought Soviet occupation in the 80's.
From the mid 90's his Northern Alliance fought the Taliban, and ultimately helped the US-led forces to overthrow the fundamentalist regime.
A former Afghan foreign minister - and close associate of Masood - chose the anniversary to criticise the government's handling of the current insurgency.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ABDULLAH ABDULLAH AFGHANISTAN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER:
"The government is losing the people of Afghanistan, so to overcome the insurgency and these circumstances for this government, and for this leadership, it seems to me close to impossible."
Ten years on from Masood's death, Afghanistan remains a deeply divided society - critics say those divisions may deepen if the government continues to pursue a deal with theTaliban.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
Masood was assassinated two days before the 2001 World Trade Centre attacks by two suicide bombers posing as journalists. The explosives were hidden in their camera.
The ceremony was attended by Afghan Vice President Marshal Fahim, along with other top government officials.
Masood's brother thanked the people of Afghanistan for the memorial.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) AHMAD WALI MASOOD BROTHER OF LATE AHMAD SHAH MASOOD:
"I am very proud today that the great people of Afghanistan indeed celebrate this day. In a good way, we are thankful to the people of Afghanistan for their celebration."
Ahmad Masood was a leading member of the Mujahideen holy warriors who fought Soviet occupation in the 80's.
From the mid 90's his Northern Alliance fought the Taliban, and ultimately helped the US-led forces to overthrow the fundamentalist regime.
A former Afghan foreign minister - and close associate of Masood - chose the anniversary to criticise the government's handling of the current insurgency.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ABDULLAH ABDULLAH AFGHANISTAN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER:
"The government is losing the people of Afghanistan, so to overcome the insurgency and these circumstances for this government, and for this leadership, it seems to me close to impossible."
Ten years on from Masood's death, Afghanistan remains a deeply divided society - critics say those divisions may deepen if the government continues to pursue a deal with theTaliban.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.