Nepal's Parliament strips King Gyanendra of power

Nepal's Parliament yesterday voted to strip the King of his constitutional powers and reduce him to a purely ceremonial figure.

The vote was the culmination of pro-democracy protesters' victory over King Gyanendra, who for more than a year had tried to rule in the style of a mediaeval absolute monarch.

A month ago, Gyanendra had the final say in every political decision. Yesterday's vote reduces him to a mere figurehead.

Gyanendra was forced to give up absolute power and restore democracy last month after crowds of half a million people took part in street protests against him in Kathmandu.

But Parliament yesterday went further and stripped him of all remaining power. It removed the King as commander-in chief of the Royal Nepalese Army, which will be renamed the Nepal Army. The Raj Parishad, Nepal's privy council, which retained real political power under Gyanendra, was abolished.

In a sign that the interim Government intends to modernise the country, the proclamation announced that Nepal, until yesterday Hindu, is now a secular state.

Nepalis hope that the removal of the King from politics could pave the way for a peace deal with the Maoist rebels who control large areas of the country.

An end to the monarchy has been one of the Maoists' key demands.

The trappings of power were stripped away as well. The King will have to pay taxes, and Parliament will decide his perks and expenses and appoint his heir.

- INDEPENDENT