Photo: Nepal’s King Gyanendra, pictured in 2007.
The Himalayan nation of Nepal has become the world’s newest republic, ending 240 years of monarchy.
A constituent assembly meeting in the capital, Kathmandu, overwhelmingly voted to abolish royal rule.
The Maoists, who emerged as the largest party in last month’s elections, were committed to ousting King Gyanendra and creating a republic.
They entered politics in 2006, after signing a peace agreement that ended a decade-long insurgency.
The approved proposal states that Nepal is “an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular and an inclusive democratic republic nation”.
Only four members of the 601-seat assembly opposed the change.
Royal privileges “will automatically come to an end”, the declaration says.
via BBC, Photo by AFP/File Photo
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