Mohammad Zahir Shah, 2002 News

former king of Afghanistan, returned to his homeland in April, after spending 29 years in exile following his overthrow by his cousin, Muhammad Daoud Khan, in 1973. He led June's loya jirga, or grand assembly, set to open in June, which elected Hamid Karzai president of Afghanistan. Zahir's return to Afghanistan was postponed twice amid fears of assassination plots.