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Nepal agrees to abolish monarchy Nepal agrees to abolish monarchy
(about 5 hours later)
Nepal's government has agreed for the first time that the 240-year-old monarchy should be abolished. The government of Nepal has agreed to abolish the monarchy as part of a deal to persuade Maoist former rebels to rejoin the interim administration.
After more than two months of arguing, the leaders of the main political parties have finally yielded to pressure from Maoist former rebels. Under the deal, Nepal will be declared a republic after a general election has been held next year and a new constituent assembly established.
The rebels demanded that a republican system be decided upon before elections rather than after them. The Maoists pulled out of the government in September, demanding an immediate end to the monarchy.
However the monarchy will not be scrapped until polls, rescheduled for next spring, have taken place. The latest deal was signed by Nepal's main parties, including the Maoists.
However no date has been set for the ex-rebels to rejoin the government.
Austere kingAustere king
Now that this agreement has been signed by the leaders of the most powerful parties - including the Maoists - it is likely to be passed by the parliament and to take effect after the elections to a constituent assembly. The BBC's Charles Haviland in Nepal says that, while a milestone, the move is no surprise.
The Maoists have not stopped using violence from time to timeThe Maoists have not stopped using violence from time to time
While a milestone, the move is no surprise. The Maoists walked out of the government three months ago, vowing not to return unless the royal system was scrapped. The Maoists walked out of the government three months ago, vowing not to return unless the royal system was scrapped.
They have now secured what they wanted, even though the other parties in the ruling coalition had said, up to now, that the electorate should decide on the issue via the new assembly. They have now secured what they wanted, even though the other parties in the ruling coalition had said, up to now, that voters should decide on the issue via the new assembly, our correspondent adds.
Many, perhaps most, Nepalis will be happy to have a republic. Analysts say that many Nepalis will be happy to have a republic.
Since the death of the well-loved King Birendra in the notorious palace massacre of 2001, the monarchy's popularity has sunk under his austere brother, Gyanendra, whose efforts to counter the Maoist insurgency worsened an already very bad human rights situation. Since the death of the well-loved King Birendra in the notorious palace massacre of 2001, the monarchy's popularity has sunk under his brother, Gyanendra - whose efforts to counter the Maoist insurgency led to a worsening of the country's human rights situation.
Ethnic violence The Maoists called a ceasefire after the king ended his controversial direct rule in April 2006 and restored parliament.
However, questions will remain about the strong-arm tactics used by the Maoists to get their way. The king backed down after weeks of strikes and protests against his rule which saw huge demonstrations against him.
They abandoned clauses in last year's peace agreement as their leader threatened to "fight for 40 more years" if their demands were not met. Political parties - who were then in opposition and are now in government - had promised to work with the Maoists as a prelude to bringing them into government.
They also have not stopped using violent tactics from time to time. They will now return to the government. The political crisis came amid a rise in ethnic and religious tension, as regional groups strove to assert their authority in advance of the elections.
This year of political squabbling has also seen mounting ethnically based violence - it has continued in southern Nepal in the past few days.
Representatives of the increasing number of ethnic groups now battling for their rights may feel the decision on the monarchy will do little for their own cause.