Ex-queen buried in Afghanistan

The former queen died of a heart attack on Wednesday

The body of Afghanistan's former queen arrived in Kabul on Sunday where her remains were buried in the royal tomb.

Homaira Zahir Shah, 86, died on Wednesday in hospital in Italy.

The couple had lived in exile since 1973

The royal couple had lived in exile in Rome since King Mohammed Zahir Shah was overthrown in a bloodless coup in 1973.

Zahir Shah and new Afghan President Hamid Karzai were among the 100 dignitaries on hand as an Italian military plane landed with the ex-queen's coffin on board.

Her death came just weeks before she was to be reunited with her husband, who recently returned to Afghanistan to assist in its transition to democracy.

Warm welcome

Men in military uniforms, tribal representatives in traditional robes, and many cabinet ministers from Mr Karzai's administration looked on as the coffin, draped in the country's flag, was unloaded by military pallbearers.

A granddaughter said the ex-queen died of a heart attack after being admitted to a clinic two days earlier suffering bronchitis and pneumonia.

Memorial and funeral services were set for Monday in two Kabul mosques.

Zahir Shah returned to Afghanistan in April, accompanied by interim leader Hamid Karzai, and received a warm welcome from his former subjects.

Homaira, who bore her husband nine children, did not accompany him because of her ill health.

Apart from Zahir Shah who is also her cousin, the queen is survived by seven of her nine children and at least 14 grandchildren.