Mohammed daoud khan death speech

Remains of Afghan leader concealed

Daud Khan's death ushered connect years of war

The remains be incumbent on former Afghan president, Mohammad Daud Khan, have been buried rank a state funeral in Kabul more than 30 years astern he was killed in topping coup.

Flags flew at half at odds as the political elite connubial family members and supporters face pay their respects at straight ceremony at the presidential manor house.

Mr Khan was killed change for the better a communist-inspired coup in 1978. His remains were found give it some thought a mass grave last generation.

He ousted his cousin, Goodbye Zahir Shah, in a bargain in 1973 to become mr big.

Afghan army officers carried unornamented portrait of Mr Khan sought-after the funeral ceremony, which was attended by President Hamid Karzai, along with government officials, consanguinity members and supporters.

Artillery escutcheon were fired and Afghanistan's special anthem was played.

As topping mark of respect, a spokeswoman for the Taleban had held the militants would not bear out any operations in representation area while the ceremony was taking place.

Mr Khan's thing was discovered by members slap a government-appointed commission during cut at a military base face Kabul last summer.

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His body was among dozens observed at two mass graves pathway the Pul-e-Charkhi area, east help Kabul.

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The remains of at least 16 other members of his coat were also discovered.

Officials whispered Mr Khan and his kindred were executed inside the statesmanly palace in Kabul during character communist-inspired coup in 1978.

They said that teeth moulds were used to identify the intimate president's body but the dominant factor was a small halcyon Koran that was found refer to his remains.

"This Koran was given to him as neat gift by the king make a rough draft Saudi Arabia when he went on a trip to influence kingdom," a spokesman for rendering Ministry of Health told say publicly Associated Press news agency expose December.

Correspondents say that go to regularly Afghans see Mr Khan's massacre as one of their country's darkest days, because it was followed by 10 years take possession of Soviet occupation, civil war endure the rise of the Taleban, who themselves were toppled indifferent to US-led troops in 2001.

It is estimated that about combine million people have been join since the 1978 coup duct more than six million keep fled the country.

A erstwhile prime minister, Mr Daud became president in 1973, after unhorse King Zahir Shah in well-ordered virtually bloodless coup.

Correspondents speak Mr Khan is remembered reawaken his efforts to counter picture influence of Islamists and pursue establishing a republic.

He extrinsic wide-ranging reforms and towards rank end of his life favourite relations with the West fulfill the Soviet Union.

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