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| Nepal 'to scrap' royal allowance | Nepal 'to scrap' royal allowance |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Nepal's government has decided to stop paying all allowances to King Gyanendra and other senior royals, reports say. | Nepal's government has decided to stop paying all allowances to King Gyanendra and other senior royals, reports say. |
| The measure is said to be included in the budget to be announced on Thursday. | The measure is said to be included in the budget to be announced on Thursday. |
| The king and senior royals received $500,000 last year. Finance ministry officials were quoted saying 700 royal household staff would still be paid. | The king and senior royals received $500,000 last year. Finance ministry officials were quoted saying 700 royal household staff would still be paid. |
| The future of the embattled monarch has been in question since mass protests forced him to end 15 months of direct rule in April 2006. | The future of the embattled monarch has been in question since mass protests forced him to end 15 months of direct rule in April 2006. |
| That paved the way for Maoist rebels to end a decade-long armed rebellion and embrace multi-party democracy. | That paved the way for Maoist rebels to end a decade-long armed rebellion and embrace multi-party democracy. |
| Low profile | Low profile |
| Many of Nepal's new political leaders, including the former Maoist rebels, now want the monarchy abolished. | Many of Nepal's new political leaders, including the former Maoist rebels, now want the monarchy abolished. |
| The king has already lost his powers as head of state and head of the army. | The king has already lost his powers as head of state and head of the army. |
| He has been forced to pay tax for the first time, and ordered to keep a low profile, as well as being barred from traditional ceremonial duties such as gracing religious functions. | He has been forced to pay tax for the first time, and ordered to keep a low profile, as well as being barred from traditional ceremonial duties such as gracing religious functions. |
| On Saturday, government ministers and foreign diplomats boycotted ceremonies marking the king's 60th birthday. | On Saturday, government ministers and foreign diplomats boycotted ceremonies marking the king's 60th birthday. |
| A constituent assembly due later this year is to decide what role, if any, the king plays in public life. | A constituent assembly due later this year is to decide what role, if any, the king plays in public life. |
| The king does not depend on allowances from the state and is thought to have a sizeable personal income, including shares in hotels and businesses. | The king does not depend on allowances from the state and is thought to have a sizeable personal income, including shares in hotels and businesses. |
| But Nepal is a traditional country and many people still revere the man, and the monarchy. |