KATHMANDU, July 31: Nepal’s government on Monday amended a law to allow girls to ascend the throne, breaking with centuries of tradition that only a male could be the royal heir, a minister said.

“The cabinet meeting on Monday amended the law related to the heir of the throne. Now the royal couple’s first child — be it a son or daughter — will succeed to become a king or queen,” said Dilendra Prasad Badu, minister for information and communications.

The government has also formed a special committee headed by the prime minister to make decisions on the accession to the throne.

King Gyanendra came to the throne in June 2001 in tragic circumstances when his brother, King Birendra, and other royals were murdered at the palace by the drunken crown prince who later shot himself.

King Gyanendra was forced to end 14 months of direct royal rule after mass protests by sidelined opposition parties in concert with Maoist rebels in April this year.

The new government has stripped the powers of the monarchy and the very future of the institution is in question.

The new government has met a key Maoist demand for an election to a body to redraft Nepal’s constitution, and possibly get rid of the monarchy altogether.

King Gyanendra’s ancestor, Prithvi Narayan Shah, founded the current dynasty in 1768 when he united, some would say conquered, numerous small kingdoms and created the state that became Nepal.—AFP