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Ex-Afghan king to return to Kabul
after three decades

The former king of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, plans to return to Kabul in March and hopes to become the head of the state once again.

The 87-year-old ex-monarch, who is popularly called "Baba" or grandfather by Afghans, will fly from Italy to Kabul and plans to make his first public appearance in the Afghan capital on March 21, a report said on Sunday.

The move is being facilitated by the Italian, British and American governments and backed by Hamid Karzai, the leader of the interim government in Afghanistan's.

The plan is for Shah to be elected head of the state for two years by the Loya Jirga, a traditional assembly of tribal elders, commanders, mullahs and intellectuals, which should be held by May 22, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper said.

In a recent interview with the newspaper, Shah insisted that he had no desire for power. "I just want to help my country," he said. In fact, he was a reluctant king when he acceded throne in 1933 at the age of 19. But his 40-year reign, which ended with a coup, is now seen as a time of great stability and liberalism.

"The king is the only person capable of unifying Afghanistan," said Haji Abdul Khaliq, chief of the Nooranis, the country's largest Pathan tribe.

Any such role for Shah is likely to be opposed by Burhannudin Rabbani, the leader of the Northern Alliance and a former president, who hopes to be elected head of the state.

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