Law changes as Nepal's king reined in

KATHMANDU - Nepal's new multi-party Cabinet scrapped several royal decrees yesterday, including easing media curbs that were imposed by King Gyanendra after he sacked the Government and seized absolute power last year.

The king, who last month bowed to weeks of mass protests and handed power back to political parties, had curbed civil rights and media freedom after he grabbed power, accusing political parties of failing to quell a bloody Maoist revolt.

Journalists were given longer prison terms for criticising the king and a ten-fold increase in fines for defamation, steps that were condemned by international media watchdogs.

The royalist Government had also restricted independent radio stations from broadcasting news, giving a monopoly to state radio bulletins.

"We have scrapped some objectionable ordinances," Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said. It is understood they included decrees restricting press freedom and imposing controls on non-governmental organisations.

The new Government has reversed some royal appointments and ordered ambassadors to 10 countries to return home.

- REUTERS