The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Katmandu

Nepal's leading party announced its support Wednesday for declaring the country a republic, moving the government a step closer to abolishing the monarchy that has ruled this Himalayan nation for centuries. Leaders of Nepal's largest political party, the Nepali Congress, passed a resolution calling for the special assembly, which is expected to be elected in November, to order the world's last Hindu king to give up his throne, a key demand of former communist rebels, said Sushil Koirala, acting president of the Nepali Congress. "Today we have made a historic decision," Koirala said. "This has ended 250 years of history and created a new history." The decision comes a week after the former Maoist rebels, who waged a decade-long armed rebellion to turn Nepal into a republic before joining the government this year, withdrew from the ruling coalition over demands that the monarchy be immediately abolished.