Gyanendra leaves palace forever

Kathmandu, Jun 11 (UNI) Former King Gyanendra and his wife Komal left Narayanhity Royal Palace this evening amidst chanting of anti-king slogans near the gate of the palace.

A large number of people had gathered at the western gate of the palace before he moved out of the palace. Some people chanted slogans against him. Some of his supporters were also there but they did not shout slogans.

A lady went to the car of the former king and his wife and tried to stop them saying, ''You cannot go leaving us alone.'' Security forces took control of her. She was saying that the former king should not leave.

Gyanendra had held the press conference in the evening in the palace for the first time and that was his last conference as the government will turn the palace into a museum.

He said that he and his family members had no role in the royal palace massacre, he would not go into exile and he had no property outside the country.

Gyanendra said that he had accepted the decision of the Constituent Assembly on May 28 to declare the abolition of monarchy.

He added that he had accepted the decision for the sake of peace, democracy and to strengthen sovereignty of the country.

Meanwhile, talking to BBC Nepali service, people from various parts of the country said that the ouster of the former monarch from the Narayanhity palace was a pleasant moment in the history of Nepal.

Nepalese people were asked about the departure of Gyanendra.

Almost all of them expressed hope that the country will move in positive direction.

UNI XC RJ HT2155