South Asia News
Former Afghan king reported dead at 92 (1st Lead)
Jul 23, 2007, 6:03 GMT
A file photograph showing Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) kissing the hands of the former Afghan King Zahir Shah after signing the country\'s new constitution in Kabul on 26 January 2004. Former Afghan King Mohammad Zahir Shah has died aged 92, it was announced 23 July 2007. Shah ruled Afghanistan from 1933 until he was deposed in 1973 and lived in exile Italy before returning home in 2002. EPA/SYED JAN SABAWOON
Kabul - The former king of Afghanistan, Mohammad Sahir Shah, has died at the age of 92, reported independent television station Tolo TV on Monday in Kabul.
After the fall of the Taliban regime Sahir Shah returned to his homeland in 2002 after 29 years in exile in Italy.
He was given the title 'Father of the Nation' by the Afghan parliament, but played no political role.
The cause of death was not immediately known. Afghan President Hamid Karzai called a press conference for Monday morning without giving a reason.
Sahir Shah came to the throne on November 8, 1933 after on the assassination of his father, King Nahir Shah.
He lost his throne in 1973 following a coup d'etat while he was traveling abroad. He lived in Rome until his permanent return to Afghanistan in 2002.
When Sahir Shah returned to his homeland shortly after the fall of the Taliban to a US-led coalition, he was greeted by costumed tribesmen dancing in the streets.
But he remained modest about his own aspirations, saying he merely wanted to serve his country in any way available to him in the remaining years of his life.
'I'm a patriot who does his duty. I will carry out any role or mission the people of Afghanistan wish to bestow on me,' he was quoted as saying in a recent interview.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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YamaAug 4th, 2007 - 18:54:54
Mohammad Zaher shah was the king of Afghanistan for a very important periods, he roled Afghanistan during world war 2 and announced his imparciality, he did such good things for his royal family but no sacnificant step took toward improving Afghanistan, he as a king left the country and jointly with other countries lead the cold war in side Afghanistan, the most potential element of domostic war in Afghanistan is Mohammad Zahir's rule, he keep the country quit in darkness and had a widespeared discrimination to ward other ethnicities in Afghanistan. If you observe the composition of his cabinet you will unquestionably see the most his family member as a ministers, he was acting as a cruel powerfull dictator in Afghanitan and his death is a blue light to the people who sufferd from his illegal dictatorship.
he was died befor 23 july but due to some political issues his deat have been kept sacread.
regards
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