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Afghanistan celebrates independence from Britain
 KABUL - President Hamid Karzai led Afghanistans Independence Day celebrations on Sunday with a call to the countrys young people to educate themselves to preserve their freedom.Karzai told tens of thousands of people gathered in the capitals sports stadium that Afghanistans youth should spend every second of their lives in learning to maintain the countrys cherished independence. "To maintain Afghanistans independence the youth of the country the youngsters must spend every second of their lives in learning, and better learning, Karzai told the gathering. An enthusiastic Karzai asked the crowd to repeat after him we want to learn and live better. Do you want to learn, become engineers, doctors and experts?, Karzai asked the crowd. Say yes, loudly, Yes, Karzai exhorted. The crowd applauded and shouted: yes, yes, we do. Reiterating condemnation of Taliban attacks on the 88th anniversary of full sovereignty from Britain, he warned there were still plots against our independence by the enemies of this land. Karzai denounced the killing of innocent people -- men, women and children, referring to the 15 victims, including 11 civilians, killed in a Taliban-linked suicide bombing in southern Afghanistan on Saturday. Although Afghanistan was never a full colony of Britain, London under a treaty controlled its foreign affairs until agreeing to allow full independence on August 19, 1919. Afghans had earlier fought three wars against the British, the first starting in 1838 and the last ending months before the 1919 agreement. Posted by: Steve White 2007-08-20 |
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