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| Albania buries royal pretender Leka Zogu | Albania buries royal pretender Leka Zogu |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The self-proclaimed heir to the throne of Albania, Leka Zogu, has been buried in Tirana in an official ceremony. | The self-proclaimed heir to the throne of Albania, Leka Zogu, has been buried in Tirana in an official ceremony. |
| Though a republic, Albania declared Saturday a day of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast and the ceremony broadcast live on national TV. | Though a republic, Albania declared Saturday a day of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast and the ceremony broadcast live on national TV. |
| Zogu, 72, was the son of Albanian King Ahmet Zogu, who ruled from 1928 until Italy's invasion in 1939. | Zogu, 72, was the son of Albanian King Ahmet Zogu, who ruled from 1928 until Italy's invasion in 1939. |
| Albania's then-communist rulers abolished the monarchy in 1946 but Zogu maintained his claim to the throne. | Albania's then-communist rulers abolished the monarchy in 1946 but Zogu maintained his claim to the throne. |
| He died in Tirana on Wednesday after being admitted to a hospital with heart and lung trouble. | He died in Tirana on Wednesday after being admitted to a hospital with heart and lung trouble. |
| Prime Minister Sali Berisha and President Bamir Topi were joined for the funeral by other political leaders, religious representatives and the president of neighbouring Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga. | |
| Tirana Mayor Lulezim Basha said "the whole Albanian royal family has made a great contribution to Albania and Kosovo and merits the honour and respect of Albanians". | Tirana Mayor Lulezim Basha said "the whole Albanian royal family has made a great contribution to Albania and Kosovo and merits the honour and respect of Albanians". |
| Zogu was only days old when his father was forced to leave the country after Italy invaded in 1939. | Zogu was only days old when his father was forced to leave the country after Italy invaded in 1939. |
| He was crowned King Leka I by the Albanian exile community in Paris in 1961. | He was crowned King Leka I by the Albanian exile community in Paris in 1961. |
| Zogu returned to Albania in 1993 after the fall of communism but was not allowed to stay. He came back a second time in 1997 but fled when violence broke out after a disputed referendum on restoring the monarchy. | Zogu returned to Albania in 1993 after the fall of communism but was not allowed to stay. He came back a second time in 1997 but fled when violence broke out after a disputed referendum on restoring the monarchy. |
| He and his Australian wife, Susan Cullen-Ward, returned to Albania to live in 2002, where she died two years later. | He and his Australian wife, Susan Cullen-Ward, returned to Albania to live in 2002, where she died two years later. |
| Zogu is survived by his son, also named Leka, who is a counsellor at the Albanian foreign ministry. | Zogu is survived by his son, also named Leka, who is a counsellor at the Albanian foreign ministry. |