Tirana, the next, is preparing to hold new referendum for monarchy

Albania holds funeral for self-styled king Zogu

(AP)

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania is holding a funeral for Leka Zogu, the self-proclaimed heir to the royal throne of his father who served as king for 11 years before World War II.

Zogu, who returned home from exile to try to claim the throne himself, died Wednesday of a heart attack. He was 72.

Though a parliamentary republic, Albanian authorities held official ceremonies for the self-styled king, who called himself Leka I Zogu, at the Parliament building with "all the attributes of a king not in office."

Saturday has been declared a day of national mourning.

Albania's communist rulers abolished the monarchy in 1946, but, even in exile, the royal family insisted that Leka Zogu was Albania's legitimate ruler.

Zogu is survived by his son, Leka II.