Former Afghan King To Return In Kabul In Early March

Former Afghan King Zahir Shah will return in Kabul in early March 2002, said Afghan Ambassador to Rome Hamidullah Nasser Zia. The monarch who ruled in Afghanistan in 1932-1973 will participate in the celebrations of the New Year (Navruz) which are to start on March 21st and will initiate a session of the so-called Loya Jirga, the Afghan supreme tribal body which is to determine the structure of the permanent government at its first meeting on June 22nd. Afghanistan needs at least 25,000 foreign peace-makers to provide security and stability in different regions of the country until the national army is formed, the Ambassador said.