MOSCOW, Feb 19: Russian President Vladimir Putin stood up on Thursday for the veterans of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, saying they should be proud of their service.

But he also said the war proved that no country should intervene in the affairs of another - an apparent reference to the US invasion of Iraq, which Russia opposed. "Neither Communism, nor democracy, nor the markets can be introduced with the means of force. These things cannot be brought in by armoured tanks," Putin said.

"These people - those who fought in Afghanistan and who were following the demands of the military oath, should not be hiding from view," Mr Putin told a Kremlin gathering of Afghan war veteran, some of them in wheelchairs.

"They absolutely honestly carried out their duties and should get the same treatment from the government and society," he said in a speech marking the 15-year anniversary of the Soviet troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan. -AFP