KATHMANDU (AFP) – Nepal’s new government declared a public holiday after parliament passed a proclamation stripping King Gyanendra of his powers and thousands of people staged a celebration rally.

Shouting “Long live the Nepali People” and Down with the monarchy,” around 3,000 people marched through the streets of the capital Kathmandu and converged on a park, witnesses said.

“We will fight for the rights of people and not for power,” N.P. Saud, a lawmaker belonging to the Nepali Congress (Democratic) told the crowd.

Home Ministry spokesman Baman Prasad Neupane said the nationwide public holiday was announced “to celebrate yesterday’s historic proclamation that made the house of representatives sovereign and all-powerful.”

In the unanimously passed proclamation, the government stripped King Gyanendra of political power and removed his control of the army.

The proclamation also declared Nepal a secular state, ending its unique status as the world’s last Hindu kingdom.
news.yahoo.com

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 20th, 2006 at 8:15 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.