KABUL, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The war-weary Afghans on Monday paid tribute to the country's national hero Ahmad Shah Massoud by marking the 18th anniversary of Massoud's assassination amid tight security.
The day also marked the start of Martyrs Week as several official gatherings were held across the country to commemorate the week.
A big gathering was held at a big hall in western of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, aiming to pay homage to Massoud's services and sacrifices rendered for the freedom of their country.
Massoud was assassinated allegedly by two al-Qaida suicide bombers posing themselves as journalists on Sept. 9, 2001 in Khawja Bahawdin district of northern Takhar province amid Taliban onslaught to capture the whole Afghanistan.
The speakers in their speeches described the late Massoud as a legendary resistance commander against the former Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan in 1979-1989 and later against the Taliban and al-Qaida network until his death in September 2001.
Scores of Afghan youth also marched through streets in Kabul by vehicles and motorcycles to commemorate the day.
