Nepal raises national flag in palace | Top News | Reuters
Nepal raises national flag in palace | Top News | Reuters
KATHMANDU Reuters – Nepali authorities raised the national flag at the palace of dethroned King Gyanendra on Thursday, hours after stone-throwing demonstrators clashed with police and tried to storm inside.
More than 25 people were injured when police beat the crowd back with bamboo sticks but protesters continued to shout anti-king slogans.
“Gyanendra, thief, leave the palace” they shouted.
Earlier on Thursday, the royal flag was lowered from Nepals palace as the Himalayan nation celebrated its first day as a republic following the abolition of its 239-year-old Hindu monarchy.
A special assembly elected in April voted to abolish the monarch and gave Gyanendra a fortnight to vacate the sprawling pink palace in Kathmandu. His palace will be turned into a museum.
