The leader of the Taliban has warned Afghanistan's former king not to meddle in the country's affairs. Speaking on Voice of Shariat radio Mullah Mohammad Omar advised ex-king Zahir Shah to live out the rest of his life in peace.
"How dare you think you can return to Afghanistan backed by the United States. How are you going to rule the country? How can you think of such things?" he asked the former leader.
Zahir Shah has lived in exile in Rome since he was deposed in 1973. Intense discussions continued in Rome today to consider ways of setting up an alternative power base to the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan.
The talks, at the home of Zahir Shah, were attended by Afghanistan's opposition, the Northern Alliance, and a delegation of eleven US congressmen.
They are being held to determine whether the former king, who is 86 years old, could participate in a possible political and military alliance to replace the Taliban.
The US has offered financial aid to help rebuild Afghanistan if Afghans agree to overthrow the Taliban government. The UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, said he believed the former king could play a pivotal role.
