UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com)�Afghanistan has faced civil war since 1973, when Prince Mohammed Daoud led a bloodless coup against his cousin, King Mohammed Zair Shah. They stopped fighting for 10 years to repel the Soviets, whose incursion ended on February 15, 1989.

Fighting broke out again in 1993, which led to the September 27, 1996 takeover of the country by the Taliban, a religious movement that recruited many converts from refugee camps inside the country. There is still civil war in Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance, a group led by Burhanuddin Rabbini, a former theology professor and head of the Jamiat e Islami Party.

Mr. Rabbini�s government is recognized by the United Nations and international community. Neighboring Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were the only nations to recognize the Taliban government. The latter two broke diplomatic ties following Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and U.S. demands for the turnover of Osama bin Laden, who has bases in Afghanistan and who the U.S. charges is responsible for the attacks.

Growing speculation says the 86-year-old former monarch of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah, exiled to Rome could return to run an interim government if the Taliban are forced out through the efforts of President George W. Bush.

Observers say the former king has received high-level diplomats at his Rome villa since the terrorist attacks. King Zahir Shah inherited the throne in 1933 after the assassination of his father, King Nadir Shah.

According to historians, King Zahir Shah ushered in 40 years of stability to the landlocked nation with reforms such as a freely elected parliament and a free press. Political parties were not legal but were tolerated. Social reforms included attempts to improve the status of women.

The latest press reports say the now-deposed king could institute a traditional grand assembly that gathers tribal chiefs, intellectuals, religious figures and politicians, if brought back to power.

The UN, since 1993, has been on record with the Security Council in calling for a coalition government in Afghanistan.

Observers say the former king may be the only one, at this time, who can get Afghanistan�s many ethnic and regional factions to work together. It is also said that Afghans will not accept a UN-formed coalition government and that the former monarch must not appear to be a puppet of the United States.

For the last three years drought has plagued Afghans, crops have been destroyed and livestock has died. Nearly one million Afghanis are internally displaced. Aid workers warn Afghanistan is heading for what could become the world�s worst humanitarian crisis. The World Food Program recently said it had food stocks inside Afghanistan that could last two weeks. The agency says it has aided three million Afghanis, and six million are in danger of starvation�mostly women and children.

Part of the problem is Russian destruction of the Afghani infrastructure. During the 10 year war, 50 percent of villages and farms were destroyed, an estimated 25 percent of paved roads lay ruined.

Afghanistan is rated by the United Nations as near last in terms of development and has massive poverty. It ranked 171st out of 173 countries graded on development.

Mass land degradation is also caused by 10 million landmines left behind by the Russians. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan says the capitol city of Kabul "is the most mined city in the world." The agency said there are 500,000 disabled orphans, a byproduct of the landmines.

Afghanistan�s refugee population, some six million people, is scattered throughout the region, mostly in Pakistan and Iran. Many told the UN they fled not because of fighting, but because of the landmines.