- ROME (Reuters) - Saying he
felt a duty to his country and to God, Afghanistan's former king has
appealed
for an emergency assembly of representatives from all Afghan groups to
elect a head of state and set up a transitional government.
The 86-year-old King Mohammad Zahir Shah, who has been living in exile
in Rome since 1973, made his ringing call in a statement broadcast to
Afghanistan
from Italy on Thursday night.
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- In his address, made in the Dari language, the king said
his ultimate goal was the "liberation of our homeland and
people.''
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- An English text was made available by a spokesman on
Friday.
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- "Despite the many sacrifices that the courageous
nation of Afghanistan has endured for the noble cause of freedom and human
dignity, we must acknowledge with regret that the presence of
foreign-imposed
terrorists has caused unrest and danger for the stability of our country
and peace in the region,'' he said.
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- "Historically, our nation has acted in accordance
with the guidance and tenets of Islam, embraced moderation and tolerance,
opposed terrorism and terrorist behavior, which is alien to Afghan
traditions,''
he said.
-
- Washington says Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden,
who is based in Afghanistan and protected by the ruling Taliban there,
was behind last week's attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon.
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- "I appeal to the Afghan people and to their sense
of honor and patriotism to rescue us from this dangerous situation so that
in the future we will have exonerated the Afghan nation before God Almighty
and history,'' he said.
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- The king was forced into exile by a 1973 coup that marked
the start of instability leading to a 1979 Soviet invasion and a civil
war.
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- The king said he felt a "national duty'' to help
Afghanistan by calling what he referred to as a Loya Jirga, an assembly
made up of representatives from all tribal and ethnic groups.
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- A spokesman said that if the Loya Jirga could not be
held in Afghanistan an emergency assembly could be held outside the
country.
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- The king said this would lead to an "Emergency Grand
Assembly, in order to elect a head of state, and establish a transitional
government.''
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- The king concluded his message by saying:
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- "I am convinced (that) with your participation and
the cooperation of the international community our struggle for the return
of peace shall continue until we fulfill our desired goal, which is the
liberation of our homeland and people. So help me God.''
-
- The spokesman said the king believed the United Nations
could play an important role in the eventual convening of the Loya Jirga
and drum up international support for it and the decisions it may make.
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