Royal flag lowered in Nepal
29/05/2008 10:40  - (SA)  

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Nepal abolishes Hindu monarchy Nepal will soon be a republic More Tibetan exiles arrested Maoists vow king's swift exit Maoists sweep Nepal polls Nepal's king denies rumours Maoists extend lead in Nepal poll Challenges lie ahead for Nepal Nepal votes in historic election

Kathmandu - The flag of Nepal's 240-year-old Shah dynasty was taken down from the main palace in Kathmandu on Thursday after legislators abolished the world's last Hindu monarchy, officials said.

"The royal flag was replaced by Nepal's national flag inside the palace on Thursday morning," a palace official said on condition of anonymity.

Thursday and Friday were declared public holidays in the new republic.

The king has been given 15 days to vacate the sprawling pink palace at the heart of Kathmandu, which will now be turned into a national museum.

"The flag has been changed as part of the government decision to implement a republic," the palace official said.

Legislators in Nepal's new constituent assembly overwhelmingly voted to ditch the monarchy just before midnight on Wednesday, in a victory for former rebel Maoists who fought for a decade to topple the institution.

The Maoists dominate the assembly, after snatching 220 seats in April elections to the 601-member body, and are poised to lead the next government.

The elections and abolition of the monarchy capped a landmark peace deal, signed by the Maoists and mainstream political parties in 2006, which ended a war that left 13 000 people dead.

- AFP

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