Nepal grants summer palace home for deposed king

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KATMANDU, June 4 (AFP): Nepal's government said Wednesday it will allow the deposed king to live in a summer palace northwest of the capital after the Himalayan nation abolished the centuries-old monarchy last week. The Cabinet decided to allow former King Gyanendra to move to Nagarjung palace - situated on a forested hill on the edge of Katmandu - after he was ordered to leave the main palace by next week, Peace Minister Ram Chandra Poudel said.

The summer palace - previously used for vacations by the king - is surrounded by walls and has remained off-limits to the public. It has been nationalised by the government along with most of the royal assets.

Gyanendra was dethroned last week by the Constituent Assembly, which abolished the monarchy and declared Nepal a republic. The assembly was elected in April to rewrite the constitution, decide the future political system and govern the nation.

The monarchy's end was the culmination of a two-year peace process that saw communist insurgents give up their armed struggle, join mainstream politics and win the most seats in April elections.

Officials met with Gyanendra on Monday and he asked the government to assist him in finding alternative accommodation. Gyanendra said he could not move back to his house where he lived before becoming king in 2001 because his son and his family were already living there.