King Zog's son returns after amnesty

The son of Albania's king and his family returned home yesterday, met by 500 supporters waving national flags and chanting "The king". Leka Zog said: "I thank the Albanian people and the parliament for giving me a chance to return to my homeland."

Liman Kola, 75, who came from Zog's hometown of Mat, in the north, to greet the royals, said: "Albanians' lost hopes are coming back with the king."

But the low turn-out at the airport reception showed the idea of a monarchy has little appeal for most Albanians. "The king is part of history," said Perparim Kurd, 45, an air passenger. "He is part of the historical nostalgia, but I don't believe he will play any role in the country's political life."

Zog, with his wife, son, mother and two aunts, waved at the crowd before entering a white limousine with windows covered with Albanian flags.

He last visited five years ago but fled because police wanted to question him in a shooting death. He was armed with a pistol and a submachine-gun and leading a protest over a referendum in which Albanians voted two-thirds against reinstating the monarchy. That was abolished by communist rulers in 1946, nearly 20 years after Leka's father declared himself king.

The president has granted Leka amnesty for weapons possessions charges he was convicted of in absentia, and parliament approved a resolution supporting his return.

Leka was two days old when his family left Albania in 1939, to flee an Italian invasion.