Nepal King suspended, PM act as interim Head of State

Kathmandu, Dec 16: Nepal's major political parties and the Maoists today reached a consensus for the interim constitution in which the Prime Minister would act as the head of state till elections are held to a constituent assembly slated for June next year.

''The Prime Minister, as the Chief of Executive, would exercise all the authority vested in the Head of State. It means that the King is suspended till his fate is decided by the first meeting of the constituent assembly,'' said the leader of the CPN,UML Ishwor Pokharel after the meeting of the eight major political parties at the Prime Minister's residence.

The meeting of the senior leaders of the seven political parties, which was held to finalise the interim constitution, continued till this morning starting yesterday.

It is said that the interim constitution will not be promulgated today as December 16 is considered a 'Black Day' in the history of Nepal since King Mahendra, father of the present King, sacked the first popularly elected government of BP Koirala in 1960 and started dictatorial rule.

Nepal's Parliament had passed a political proclamation in May making the king completely powerless and disconnecting his link with the Nepal army and making drastic changes in state affairs.

The direct rule of King Gyanendra ended following the popular movement in April when tens of thousands of people came out into the streets across the country demanding the end of monarchy in the Himalayan Kingdom.

The Seven Parties Government and the Maoists have agreed to hold the election of the constituent assembly in June next year to write a new constitution which will decide the future of the 238-year-old monarchy.

UNI

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