Afghanistan buries its last king

by BBC (reposted)

Tue, Jul 24, 2007 8:57AM

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 : The funeral is held in Afghanistan of the country's last king, Zahir Shah, who died on Monday aged 92.

Flags are at half mast during three days of mourning for the former monarch, who returned from exile in 2002, 29 years after being deposed.

Representatives from all over the world are attending the ceremony for the man known as the father of the nation.

Meanwhile, there has been fresh violence in the country, with six Nato-led troops being killed.

Officials say that scores of Taleban rebels have also reportedly been killed in fighting.

Tributes

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says many see the former king as a symbol of the national unity since lost amid violence.

A guard of honour carried the former king's coffin draped in the Afghan flag to a viewing stand under a shade of pine trees at the palace grounds.

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For more information: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/...

§Afghanistan Mourns King Zahir Shah

by NPR (reposted)

Tue, Jul 24, 2007 8:58AM

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 : Afghanistan mourns the loss of its former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, who died at age 92 after a long illness. Government offices are closed and flags are flying at half-staff for the man whose reign was one of the most peaceful in the war-torn nation's history.

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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...

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