Exiled Afghan opposition, former king, to meet in Rome

ROME, Jan 18 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ex-king Mohammed Zaher Shah and opposition leaders living in exile will meet in Rome this weekend, the Italian foreign ministry said Thursday.

The 86-year-old former monarch has lived in exile in Italy since 1973, when he was overthrown by a cousin.

He has been lobbying since 1999 for a Loya Jirgah, the traditional Afghan Grand Assembly, to be held, to end the Afghan conflict, appoint a head of state and establish a transitional government.

In June 1999, the ex-king met with leading Afghan exiles, and in November that same year he organized a meeting of nearly 80 representatives of his country's various social and political groups, who according to western diplomats agreed on holding a Loya Jirgah.

A committee promoting a grand assembly meeting has recently set up a seven-member executive panel that is to assist the former king in coordinating the Afghan reconciliation process.