May 13, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

KATHMANDU, May 12: Nepal’s government announced on Monday that its new constitution-drafting body would meet for the first time on May 28 when it is due to formally abolish the monarchy and declare the country a republic.

The Maoists, who scored a surprise victory in landmark elections last month, have vowed that the monarchy would be scrapped during the first sitting of the assembly.

The ex-rebels overturned all predictions in the April polls, winning 220 of the 601 seats in the constitutional assembly — more than twice the number of their nearest rivals and pre-election favourites, the Nepali Congress.

“The prime minister has sent letters to all the participating political parties calling for the first meeting of the constituent assembly on May 28,” Aditya Baral, adviser to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said.

King Gyanendra’s fall from power will mark the end of the world’s only Hindu monarchy, which has been on the throne for 240 years.

Gyanendra, who is seen by supporters as a reincarnation of the Hindu protector Vishnu, has endured a traumatic and short reign.

He took the throne in 2001 after a drunk and drugged crown prince massacred nine members of the royal family and then killed himself, after being forbidden from marrying the woman he loved. Already unpopular, Gyanendra’s popularity hit rock bottom when he sacked the government and took direct control of the impoverished nation in February 2005.—AFP