Former US president George Bush senior arrived in the Italian capital Wednesday for a private visit during which he was expected to talk to Afghanistan's former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah.
The entourage of the 86 year-old king, who is playing a central role in attempts to create a post-Taliban administration in Afghanistan, neither confirmed nor denied that any meeting would take place.
A delegation of US congressmen who met Zahir Shah at the weekend have backed plans for the formation of a government, under the ex-king's auspices, which would encompass disparate Afghan opposition forces.
The former monarch has been in exile in Rome since his removal in a coup in 1973.
Bush senior is on a private visit to Italy, arriving in Rome from the northern city of Milan, where he carried out business appointments on Tuesday. He is due to return to the United States on Thursday -- ROME (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
