AP
Zahir Shah

 A British army spokesman told reporters at Bagram Air Base intelligence reports over the past two weeks indicated the terrorists may plan to pose as journalists. The spokesman did not reveal the source of the information, but pointed out that the same tactic was used to assassinate popular anti-Taleban leader Ahmed Shah Masood two days before the September 11 attacks on the United States.

 The Afghan interior ministry security chief, General Deen Mohammad Joorat, told Reuters he was unaware of any threat against Zahir Shah, addding he had no concerns about the former king's security. The 87-year-old former monarch is living in a heavily-guarded house in central Kabul.

 Zahir Shah returned to Afghanistan from exile in Italy two days ago. In June, he is to open Afghanistan's loya jirga, a grand council of tribal leaders who will select the transitional government charged with preparing for eventual general elections. 

Meanwhile, Americans in Afghanistan have been warned that al-Qaida has renewed its offer to pay a $50,000 bounty for any American captured alive. Thirty-thousand dollars has been offered for any Westerner killed. In Kabul, unidentified gunmen attacked international peacekeepers during a routine patrol near the airport Friday night. A French soldier was slightly wounded in the shootout. The gunmen escaped. In recent weeks, members of the International Security Assistance Force have been targeted by unidentified gunmen in several attacks.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by Reuters. 

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