Nepali vote is 'a success'
2006-02-11 21:54
Kathmandu - The Nepali government is hailing this weeks' elections as "a success".
Nepali government-backed candidates have won 29 powerful mayoral seats in the country's municipal elections.
Another 29 seats have been won by independent candidates who favour the Nepali king.
Nepal's Election Commission said candidates from the pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party won 25 seats, while candidates from the pro-government Nepal Sadbhawana won four.
The remaining 29 are from small parties or those who had stood as independents.
The mayoral positions are the most powerful seats of the more than 4 100 up for grabs in the municipal elections on Wednesday.
Less than half of these seats were contested in this weeks' election.
According to Nepal's Election Commission, re-elections will be held for the seats not contested.
Maoist rebels, struggling against Nepal's monarchy, launched repeated attacks in the build up to the elections and threatened to kill anyone who took part.
The election was also boycotted by the major opposition political parties, calling them an attempt by the Nepali king to legitimise his takeover of the country's government.
About 21% of voters participated in the elections.
- AP