Nepal's parliament was set to begin debate yesterday on abolishing the nation's centuries-old monarchy to meet the demands of former communist rebels.
The communists, widely known as Maoists, have demanded the king be removed immediately, while the largest party in parliament -- Prime Minister Girija Prasad's Nepali Congress -- said it would vote against such a proposal.
The Congress party, with 132 seats, said the king should be removed, but only after upcoming elections for a Constituent Assembly, which will decide on Nepal's future political system.
"We are confident that our proposal will be adopted by the parliament. We are negotiating with other parties to persuade them to back our proposal," said Dev Gurung, the Maoists' chief whip in parliament.
The debate is expected to last several days before a vote by the 328 members. The Maoists and other parties supporting them have only 87 parliamentary seats.
The communists withdrew from the government last month, demanding the immediate abolition of the monarchy and plunging Nepal into a new political crisis.
"We are confident that the crisis will be resolved through the parliament debate," Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said. "Talks are being held with all parties to reach an agreement."
The Maoists' withdrawal also forced the government to postpone elections to the Constituent Assembly, which will be charged with rewriting Nepal's Constitution and shaping the country's political future. The election was originally scheduled for Nov. 22, but few expect it to be held before March.
Nepali King Gyanendra has been unpopular since he came to the throne in 2001 after a massacre in the royal palace left his brother, King Birendra, and nine other royals dead. Gyanendra seized absolute power in 2005, saying he would bring order to a chaotic political scene and quell the insurgency.
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