Centrist Congress Party Is Winner of Nepal Vote

KATMANDU, Nepal — The Nepali Congress Party won Nepal's first democratic elections after more than three decades of absolute monarchy, the election commission announced Friday.

The centrist party won 103 of 196 decided seats in the 205-member House of Representatives. Votes are still being counted in the other nine districts, but observers say most will probably be won by the Congress Party.

The majority means the Congress Party will form Nepal's first elected government since 1959. In opposition will be a Communist alliance, which won 81 seats in last Sunday's general elections.

Independents and smaller parties won 12 seats.