Consituent Assembly elections in Nepal on June 20

Kathmandu, Apr 1 (UNI) Political parties in Nepal have decided to hold the Constituent Assembly elections on June 20 this year to write a new constitution in the Himalayan nation.

''A meeting of the eight major the political parties, including the Maoists, held at Prime Minister's residence this morning decided the date,'' a senior leader of the alliance told UNI.

The elections to the Constituent Assembly will decide the future of the suspended monarchy. The parties have said the final decision on the monarchy will be taken in the first meeting of the Assembly elections.

Nepalese monarchy has become very unpopular since King Gyanendra snatched power from elected government, dissolved parliament and declared himself as chairman of the council of ministers.

The King and his son Paras became very unpopular since the royal palace massacre in June 2001, in which all the family members and some close relatives of King Birendra were killed.

King Gyanendra and his family members survived in the incident blamed the late crown prince Dipendra, who was also killed in the incident.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently said King Gyanendra and Paras should give up throne.

The popular movement, jointly launched by the major political parties and the civil society in April last, compelled King Gyanendra to give up his dictatorial rule.

Parliament, through a political resolution, completely cut the power of the King and the new interim Constitution has suspended the monarchy.

UNI