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Karzai brings back Afghan ex-king

Former King Zahir Shah: Counting the hours until he returns to his homeland

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The leader of Afghanistan's interim government, Hamid Karzai, has landed in Rome to bring former king Mohammad Zahir Shah home from a 29-year exile in the Italian capital.

Karzai is due to see the frail, 87-year-old king on Tuesday evening and both will meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Shah, who was deposed in 1973, will leave Italy to head a "Loya Jirga" or grand assembly for an 18-month period. During that time the Loya Jirga will decide on the shape of a new government for Afghanistan.

The former king and his entourage along with Karzai are expected to leave Rome on Wednesday for an undisclosed location where they will change aircraft before flying into Kabul, according to Nasser Zia, Afghanistan's Ambassador to Italy and Zalmai Rassul, Afghan Minister for Civilian Aviation.

In a March CNN interview, the 88-year-old former monarch said he wanted to bring peace and democracy to his country and was counting the hours until he could see his homeland and people again.

He said he would make expansion of an international peacekeeping force his priority. He told CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour that ordinarily he would not accept foreign troops in Afghanistan, but these were "extraordinary times".

Shah said he wanted to spend the remaining years of his life in his own county and at the service of his people.

The king was deposed while on a trip to Italy when his brother-in-law, Mohammad Daud Khan, proclaimed Afghanistan a republic and himself president.

During his time as king of Afghanistan, Shah reasserted the authority of the central government.

He has been residing in Rome for most of the past 29 years.