Royal flag lowered in Nepal

2008-05-29 10:40

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