Nepal is declared a secular republic

Nepal on Wednesday scripted a new chapter in its turbulent history as the newConstituent Assembly abolished the 240-year-old monarchy and declared the country a "secular, federal democratic republic."

The 601-member body met at the Birendra International Convention Centre on Wednesday evening, and a motion was passed to declare the country the world's newest republic.

After a series of meetings, the Seven-Party Alliance agreed to table the motion at the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly, dominated by Maoists. It was passed by 560 votes in favour, with four members opposing it.

King, Gyanendra will become an ordinary citizen and will lose all his powers. He has been given 15 days to vacate his palace. May 28 will now be celebrated as Nepal's Republic Day.

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Nepal King set to lose his crown on May 28

Nepal's government announced on Monday that its new constitution drafting body would meet for the first time on May 28 when it is due to formally abolish the monarchy and declare the country a republic.

The Maoists, who scored a surprise victory in landmark elections last month, have vowed that the monarchy would be scrapped during the first sitting of the assembly.

The former rebels overturned all predictions in the April polls, winning 220 of the 601 seats in the constitutional assembly more than twice the number of their nearest rivals and pre-election favourites, the Nepali Congress.

"The Prime Minister has sent letters to all the participating political parties calling for the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28," Aditya Baral, adviser to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, said.

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