Nepal

King won't go into exile

Article published on the 2008-04-21 Latest update 2008-04-21 08:22 TU

Royalists demonstrate in January
(Photo: Reuters)

Nepal's royal palace says that King Gyanendra will not be going into exile, despite calls by the Maoist party which won most votes in the recent election for him to do so. Gyanendra rejected what he called "malicious reports" that he would be leaving for India.

"He will not be going anywhere. He is not going to leave the country," the statement said.

The former guerrillas have warned that if Gyanendra does not step down, he will face trial and punishment. They have said in the past they intended to abolish Nepal's 240-year-old monarchy as quickly as possible.

"In history, monarchs have been beheaded and also had to flee. Let not that be repeated in Nepal," Maoist leader Prachanda said. He said that he would like to speak with the king to persuade him to leave of his own accord.

The vote count continues. The Maoists are poised to win the largest bloc of seats in the assembly - at least 240 out of  601.

Gyanendra has been stripped of all his powers but has so far refused to vacate his position. He took power in 2001 after other family members were murdered by the Crown Prince.