Former Afghan king visits father's war-damaged grave

KABUL, Afghanistan -- On his first stop since returning to his homeland, Former Afghan king Mohammad Zaher Shah made an emotional visit to the grave of his father Friday, looking with dismay at a once glorious crypt wrecked by war.

Accompanied by interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, the former king prayed over the grave of his father, Nader Shah, who was assassinated before his sons' eyes 68 years ago. Nearby, a man recited verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book.

It was Zaher Shah's first venture outside his heavily guarded house since he returned to Afghanistan on Thursday, ending 29 years in exile in Italy. Hundreds of Afghans lined the streets as his motorcade sped by.

On its way to the grave as the sun began to set, the motorcade passed building after building riddled with gunfire and gutted by explosions from three decades of warfare. The last time Zaher Shah was in Kabul, the city was at peace.

He found his father's crypt -- once elaborate with columns and a metal dome -- heavily damaged by rockets and gunfire. When he stepped into the hall, he paused for a moment and gazed up at the gaping holes in the ceiling.

Visibly distressed, his face dropped.

Zaher Shah also received a steady stream of visitors at the two-story house that was refurbished for his use. Dozens of Afghan guards stood outside along with several international peacekeepers, who said they would remain there during the ex-king's first day to ensure his safety.

The former king spent much of the day receiving friends at home, said an aide, Azim Nasser-Zia. He also gazed at snowcapped mountains that he longed to see for years.

"He is fine, very good," Nasser-Zia said.

The former king's homecoming is part of a U.N.-sponsored agreement on Afghanistan's future that was forged in Germany last December. It called on Zaher Shah to convene a loya jirga, or grand council, to choose a new government in June.

Zaher Shah ruled Afghan-istan from 1933 -- succeeding his slain father -- to 1973, when he was overthrown by his cousin in a palace coup. The years that followed were marked by utter devastation, and many hope the former king can serve as a unifying figure as the country struggles to overcome decades of war.

"I want to serve the people of Afghanistan," Zaher Shah told his countrymen on Kabul television Thursday night.