Afghanistan's exiled King Zahir Shah is expected to leave Rome Wednesday, for his first visit to his homeland in almost 30 years. 

Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai is in the Italian capital to escort the former king back to Kabul. They plan to fly to an unidentified third country before their expected arrival in Afghanistan Thursday. 

U.S. and Italian authorities postponed the king's return for nearly one month because of reports of assassination plots. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is promising to provide the king with extraordinary security in Afghanistan. 

The 87-year-old former king says he is returning home not as a monarch, but as a private citizen. Some Afghans believe Zahir Shah is the only one who can truly unite Afghanistan after 22 years of war, but he has said he has no intention of returning to power. 

Meanwhile, in Kandahar, an American soldier was slightly wounded after being shot in the face. U.S. officials say the drive-by shooting occurred near Kandahar's governor's mansion where some U.S. troops are garrisoned. Afghan police say they cordoned off the area to search for the assailant. 

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. 

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