Ex-king visits father's tomb

The ex-king was clearly moved during the visit

The former king of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah, has marked his first full day back from 30 years of exile with an emotional visit to his father's grave.

It's a change for Afghanistan, all Afghans are free to come here - a country for all

Interim leader Hamid Karzai

The 87-year-old former monarch was accompanied by the Afghan interim leader, Hamid Karzai, on his visit to the tomb on a hill overlooking the capital, Kabul.

Officials said Zahir Shah spent the rest of the day receiving visitors, including a number of tribal leaders, at his heavily guarded residence.

The former king returned home on Thursday as a private citizen, whose only public role will be to open the loya jirga or national assembly which will decide the next Afghan Government in June.

But hopes are high that he will act as a unifying force in a country shattered by decades of conflict.

Emotional scenes

Zahir Shah was helped slowly up the steps to his father's mausoleum by his son Mohammad.

The ex-king was visibly shocked as he surveyed the damage to the tomb caused by rockets and gunfire.

Threats to the king's security are being taken seriously

His father, Mohammad Nadir Shah, was assassinated before his own eyes in 1933.

Zahir Shah himself was deposed forty years later, while travelling abroad.

Following the visit to the mausoleum, Mr Karzai reiterated his view that the former king's return was a milestone in the country's journey towards peace.

"I feel very happy and very proud," he said.

"It's a change for Afghanistan, all Afghans are free to come here. The refugees from the camps in Peshawar and in Iran and the former king of Afghanistan - a country for all."

Mr Karzai, along with many ordinary Afghans and Western officials, is hopeful that Zahir Shah will unite Afghanistan's many ethnic groups.

But observers say some powerful figures - including members of the Northern Alliance - are wary of his return, fearing it could provide a rallying point for their opponents.