Nepal king's palace declared prohibited area
With only two days to go before the abolition of Nepal King Gyanendra's centuries-old crown, the government on Monday declared the royal palace a prohibited area to prevent violent clashes between royalists and republicans.
Nepal's home ministry said processions, sit-ins and even running kiosks or parking vehicles near the Narayanhity royal palace were prohibited from Monday.
Prohibitions have also been clamped in the nearby Maharajgunj area where Nirmal Niwas, the private residence where the king lived before he was crowned in 2001, is located.
The stringent safety measures come ahead of the newly elected constituent assembly's first meeting on Wednesday when it will officially proclaim Nepal a republic, axing its 239-year-old lineage of Shah kings.
The Maoists, who won March's election and have been asked to form the new government, have said the king would be asked to leave the palace the same day.
Uncertainty prevails
Amidst speculation whether the strong-willed king would heed the writing on the wall or choose a confrontation by refusing to vacate the palace, Gyanendra on Thursday left the royal quarters for his summer residence in Nagarjuna, north of Kathmandu.
Though palace retinues were told the king and his queen, Komal, would return to the palace on Monday, it remains to be seen if they would.
Prohibitory orders have also been clamped in the Baneshwor area, where the Birendra International Convention Centre is located.
The 601 members of the constituent assembly would be sworn in at the centre on Tuesday. It is also the fateful place where the following day, the members would formally proclaim an end to Nepal's monarchy.
The prime minister's official residence at Baluwatar in the capital and other places of public importance have also been put under the prohibitory orders.
The cloud of fear and uncertainty looming over Nepal ahead of the historic Wednesday meet was strengthened on Monday when a die-hard royalist indicated the king's supporters were still not ready to accept the end of monarchy.
Kamal Thapa, Chief of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, the only major party to have fought the April 10, 2008 polls in support of monarchy, warned that if the crown was scrapped without waiting for a referendum, it would lead to either a takeover by the Maoists or the army.
Nepal's home ministry said processions, sit-ins and even running kiosks or parking vehicles near the Narayanhity royal palace were prohibited from Monday.
Prohibitions have also been clamped in the nearby Maharajgunj area where Nirmal Niwas, the private residence where the king lived before he was crowned in 2001, is located.
The stringent safety measures come ahead of the newly elected constituent assembly's first meeting on Wednesday when it will officially proclaim Nepal a republic, axing its 239-year-old lineage of Shah kings.
The Maoists, who won March's election and have been asked to form the new government, have said the king would be asked to leave the palace the same day.
Uncertainty prevails
Amidst speculation whether the strong-willed king would heed the writing on the wall or choose a confrontation by refusing to vacate the palace, Gyanendra on Thursday left the royal quarters for his summer residence in Nagarjuna, north of Kathmandu.
Though palace retinues were told the king and his queen, Komal, would return to the palace on Monday, it remains to be seen if they would.
Prohibitory orders have also been clamped in the Baneshwor area, where the Birendra International Convention Centre is located.
The 601 members of the constituent assembly would be sworn in at the centre on Tuesday. It is also the fateful place where the following day, the members would formally proclaim an end to Nepal's monarchy.
The prime minister's official residence at Baluwatar in the capital and other places of public importance have also been put under the prohibitory orders.
The cloud of fear and uncertainty looming over Nepal ahead of the historic Wednesday meet was strengthened on Monday when a die-hard royalist indicated the king's supporters were still not ready to accept the end of monarchy.
Kamal Thapa, Chief of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, the only major party to have fought the April 10, 2008 polls in support of monarchy, warned that if the crown was scrapped without waiting for a referendum, it would lead to either a takeover by the Maoists or the army.