Nepal Government

King Birendra gave in to opposition demands for democracy Monday by permitting a newly legalized coalition to form a provisional government, which promptly named its acting president as prime minister. The opposition Nepali Congress party announced that Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, its acting president, would head Nepal's first government in 30 years not set up by the monarch.

AN estimated 12,500 people were killed during the decade-long Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Bombs exploded in busy tourist areas, demonstrations erupted in violence and road blockades disrupted transportation, but no tourists were killed. The most serious threat occurred in the mountains, where Maoist bands stopped trekkers and demanded money. Those who resisted were threatened or detained. In 2002, Maoists stopped American travel writer Jeff Greenwald in the middle of a trek.

King Birendra dismissed Nepal's government today and announced broad democratic reforms, authorizing the new government to meet with the opposition and naming a panel to rewrite the constitution. Birendra also said he will order a "fact-finding mission" to investigate the "loss of life" of at least 23 demonstrators who died during a six-week pro-democracy uprising. He called for a special session of the National Assembly.

As soldiers enforced a curfew to end hours of rioting, Nepal's new king promised Monday that a commission headed by the chief justice will find out the truth about the massacre that decimated the royal family. The probe into the shooting deaths of King Birendra, his queen and six others Friday will be completed within three days, King Gyanendra, Birendra's 53-year-old brother, said in a televised address hours after ascending the throne.

AN estimated 12,500 people were killed during the decade-long Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Bombs exploded in busy tourist areas, demonstrations erupted in violence and road blockades disrupted transportation, but no tourists were killed. The most serious threat occurred in the mountains, where Maoist bands stopped trekkers and demanded money. Those who resisted were threatened or detained. In 2002, Maoists stopped American travel writer Jeff Greenwald in the middle of a trek.

As soldiers enforced a curfew to end hours of rioting, Nepal's new king promised Monday that a commission headed by the chief justice will find out the truth about the massacre that decimated the royal family. The probe into the shooting deaths of King Birendra, his queen and six others Friday will be completed within three days, King Gyanendra, Birendra's 53-year-old brother, said in a televised address hours after ascending the throne.

The man who helped lead Nepal to democracy a decade ago was chosen Saturday to be the nation's next prime minister--the fourth time that he has headed the Himalayan nation's chaotic government. Girija Prasad Koirala was picked by his Nepali Congress party in Parliament to lead the new government, beating Shir Bahadur Deuba--also a former prime minister--by a vote of 69 to 43. The Nepali Congress has 113 members in the lower house of parliament.

King Birendra appointed a centrist as the new prime minister to succeed a Communist who lost his office after a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress Party was charged with forming the Himalayan Hindu kingdom's first coalition government. Officials said Deuba was expected to be sworn in today and to announce a Cabinet later in the day.

One of the oddest couples ever seen in politics took command of this lofty and poor Himalayan kingdom Wednesday when Nepal's monarch, revered by millions as a living god, swore in a government of Communists. This overwhelmingly Hindu land has quite improbably become the world's first convert to the tenets of Karl Marx since the Berlin Wall crumbled five years ago and the Soviet Bloc began its meltdown.

Opposition leader Ganesh Man Singh said Nepal's pro-democracy movement will not rest until the Himalayan kingdom has free elections. Singh, under house arrest, said his party does not want to dismantle the monarchy but that King Birendra "has seen the writing on the wall. That is why the government has resorted to violence."

With the second declaration of a Nepali king's death in just four days, public anger and confusion intensified today and stone-throwing demonstrators took to the streets demanding to know the truth behind the slayings of Nepal's royal family. In an emergency meeting, the state council confirmed that King Dipendra had officially been declared dead early this morning. The council proclaimed Dipendra's uncle, Prince Gyanendra, who had been acting king, the new monarch.

The man who helped lead Nepal to democracy a decade ago was chosen Saturday to be the nation's next prime minister--the fourth time that he has headed the Himalayan nation's chaotic government. Girija Prasad Koirala was picked by his Nepali Congress party in Parliament to lead the new government, beating Shir Bahadur Deuba--also a former prime minister--by a vote of 69 to 43. The Nepali Congress has 113 members in the lower house of parliament.

The 6-month-old government of Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand resigned after he lost a vote of confidence in parliament. The opposition Nepali Congress accused the government of failing to bring law and order to the Himalayan constitutional monarchy, and of failing to control a radical Maoist movement that started last year. Chand is the third prime minister in three years to be ousted. The Nepali Congress and the rebel faction of Chand's party are expected to try to form a new

King Birendra appointed a centrist as the new prime minister to succeed a Communist who lost his office after a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress Party was charged with forming the Himalayan Hindu kingdom's first coalition government. Officials said Deuba was expected to be sworn in today and to announce a Cabinet later in the day.

Parliament ousted the Communist government that has led this small Himalayan nation for nine months, heralding a transfer of power away from Marxism. The main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, introduced a no-confidence motion last week that passed, 107 to 88. Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari, 74, sent his resignation to King Birendra, who accepted it and asked him to remain in office until ministers are chosen to replace him.

Nepal's King Birendra dismissed Parliament at the request of Communist Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari, who wished to avoid a confidence vote his coalition government was expected to lose. Adhikari will lead a caretaker government until Nov. 23 elections. Three opposition parties said they would challenge the constitutionality of the king's decision in court.

Authorities arrested 70 members of the outlawed Nepali Congress Party as it prepared to launch a campaign demanding that political organizations be legalized in Nepal, a party spokesman said in Katmandu. All political parties are banned in Nepal. The leftist Nepali Congress Party, banned 29 years ago, decided recently to launch a nationwide campaign to demand restoration of a multi-party system.

King Birendra, responding to burgeoning demands for democracy in Nepal, fired nine of his 11 Cabinet ministers. But hours after the announcement, thousands of pro-democracy protesters armed with knives, sticks and sickles took to the streets of Katmandu, capital of the Himalayan kingdom. Meanwhile, 95% of doctors and health professionals refused to go to work.

One of the oddest couples ever seen in politics took command of this lofty and poor Himalayan kingdom Wednesday when Nepal's monarch, revered by millions as a living god, swore in a government of Communists. This overwhelmingly Hindu land has quite improbably become the world's first convert to the tenets of Karl Marx since the Berlin Wall crumbled five years ago and the Soviet Bloc began its meltdown.

For three years, a septuagenarian workaholic who suffers from fainting spells served as prime minister of Nepal as the poor, isolated Shangri-La experimented with parliamentary democracy. This week, assailed by lawmakers he thought were his allies as well as by opposition Communists, the beleaguered Girija Prasad Koirala resigned. Elections have been called for Nov. 13. The jury is still out on Koirala's performance.