Farwell to a King

In Remembrance of His Majesty King Mohammed Zahir Shah "Father of the Nation" 1914 - 2007

Afghanistan mourns the loss of its former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, who died in his bed at age 92 after a long illness. Government offices are closed and flags are flying at half-staff for the man whose reign was one of the most peaceful in the war-torn nation's history.

Zahir Shah's wooden coffin, shrouded with the red, green and black flag of Afghanistan, was first placed under the shade of pine trees at the presidential palace grounds where Afghan politicians, tribal elders, royal family members and international dignitaries paid their respects.

The coffin was then taken to the Eid Gah Mosque where a short prayer was read. Participants, including senior army and police officers and thousands of common citizens, sympathized with relatives of the former monarch and offered prayers for the departed soul.

The coffin was then pulled to Tapa Maranjan, where dozens of ornate, red carpets had been laid on the ground and the bullet-pocked mausoleum was covered in black. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and a small entourage descended into the tomb to see Zahir Shah's final resting place next to his father.

Elders pay their last respect to the flag-covered coffin of Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah. (Ahmad Masood/Reuters)	An Afghan man mourns the death of former king Mohammed Zahir Shah during his funeral ceremony. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
An honor guard escorts the flag-covered coffin of Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah during his funeral. (AP Photo/Ahmad Masood)	Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz attend the funeral prayer. (Ahmad Masood/Reuters)
Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah's coffin is seen as Afghan women stand during the ceremony. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)	An unidentified relative of former king Mohammed Zahir Shah wipes tears during the ceremony in Kabul. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, 2nd right, pays his last respect as he prays in front of the flag-covered coffin of former king Mohammed Zahir Shah. Photo/Ahmad Masood)	An honor guard carries the flag-covered coffin of Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah during his funeral at the presidential palace in Kabul. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)
An honor guard awaits the arrival of the body of Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah for burial. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)	Family members of Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah attend his funeral in Kabul. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)
An elderly man pays his last respect to the flag-covered coffin of former king Mohammed Zahir Shah. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)	An honor guard carries the flag-covered coffin of Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah for burial in Kabul. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)
Afghan guards of honor stand on line as the coffin of Afghanistan's former king Mohammed Zahir Shah is transported by armored military vehicle. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)	Afghan president Hamid Karzai, center with beard, looks at the coffin of former king Mohammed Zahir Shah during the funeral ceremony in Kabul. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
A view of a partially reconstructed mausoleum where former king Mohammed Zahir Shah is buried. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)	Afghans prepare for prayers for former king Mohammed Zahir Shah during his funeral ceremony. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)