June 12, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 07, 1429

KATHMANDU, June 11: Nepal’s former king Gyanendra left his main palace in Kathmandu late on Wednesday to live as a commoner in a former hunting lodge on the outskirts of the capital.

Gyanendra and his wife Komal Shah left in the back of a black Mercedes as hundreds of riot police surrounded the main gate of the sprawling palace complex in the heart of the ancient temple-studded city.

Shouts of “Long live the republic” rang out from a crowd of about 500 people who watched Gyanendra’s departure while a few pro-royalists cried.

“Former king Gyanendra Shah and his wife Komal Shah have left the palace and are headed to Nagarjun,” the forest reserve on the edge of Kathmandu, police officer Bharat Lama said.

The ex-king, who was regarded as a god by devout Hindus, showed no emotion as he drove away in a small convoy of three vehicles.

The decision to abolish the world’s only Hindu monarchy was taken last month by an assembly formed as part of a peace deal between Maoist rebels and mainstream parties who joined forces to oppose Gyanendra after he seized direct control of the country.

Gyanendra was vaulted to the throne in June 2001 after a palace massacre in which most of the royal family was killed.

The shooting rampage was staged by the then-crown prince who was drunk and on drugs and enraged at being prevented from marrying the woman he loved. He later killed himself.—AFP