The World - News from Aug. 24, 1988

Afghan guerrillas and Western diplomats said that Soviet forces suffered their worst losses in 8 1/2 years of fighting in Afghanistan when an ammunition depot blew up earlier this month. The dump at the military base at Kalagay, 100 miles north of the Afghan capital of Kabul, reportedly exploded Aug. 10 when it was hit by rebel-fired rockets. Western diplomats in Pakistan, quoting rebel sources, said that at least 109 Soviet troops were killed and eight helicopters destroyed. In Moscow, Soviet spokesman Gennady I. Gerasimov confirmed that the explosion occured but said there were no casualties.