Dec 27th: 30yrs ago Kabul Afghanistan

How Soviet troops stormed Kabul palace

It was all brand new - the palace had just been refurbished. And Najiba's parents had been invited there for a party, to show off the new design.

It was 27 December, 1979. And as the guests warmed themselves with lavish food, outside the palace walls other - uninvited - guests waited in the winter cold.

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"We killed the Afghans who put up any opposition to us," said Rustam. "The building was on fire and by the light of the flames we could see silhouettes. We recognised our own people because they were swearing in Russian."

"The things I saw," said Najiba. "My God - people on the floor. I saw a person… like a scene from a nightmare movie. Dead bodies. Lots."

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"Amin's son was hit by shrapnel and bled to death. All the bodies were wrapped in carpet and buried near the palace. There was no ceremony for them."

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It was 43 minutes that turned into a nine-year war, took the Cold War to a new level, and left more than a million people dead.

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You can hear more from both Najiba and Rustam in a special two-part series of 'Witness' on the BBC World Service, on Monday 28 December and Tuesday 29 December...>>>>>