KATHMANDU, May 18: Nepal’s parliament on Thursday approved a sweeping plan to curtail the powers of the king and take away his control over the army.

The landmark decision came less than a month after often-violent mass protests across the impoverished Himalayan nation pressured King Gyanendra to reinstate parliament and hand power back to a multi-party government.

The resolution was approved by a verbal vote by deputies in the 205-member assembly less than two hours after it was presented by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The news was greeted with victory rallies across the country and more were planned for Friday. In the capital, Kathmandu, residents lit candles outside their houses in celebration.

Thursday’s proclamation takes away the title of supreme commander-in-chief of the military from the king.

The government will no longer be called “His Majesty’s Government” but just Nepal government. The country would also stop being a Hindu nation and become a secular state.

“It reflects the aspirations of the people and respects the sacrifices of the people who were martyred during the movement,” Mr Koirala said as he tabled the resolution, referring to weeks of mass protests against King Gyanendra.

At least 17 people were killed in the protests.

“Now no one can dare underestimate this. I urge people to remain alert and rise against anyone who tries to interfere in this and undermine this,” Mr Koirala said, speaking in Nepali.—Reuters