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Nepal gets new king amid protests
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HOPING to move Nepal past its royal massacre, a new king took the throne on Monday and ordered an investigation and public explanation, even as furious citizens staged riots that police stopped with guns, clubs and a curfew.
King Gyanendra went on national television to pledge a full investigation of the royal tragedy that shook this impoverished Himalayan nation. But he has already lost credibility by saying on Sunday that the previous king and most of Nepal's royal family were killed by ``accidental'' automatic gunfire.
Police lifted their curfew early yesterday morning and Nepalese began venturing out in the capital, but the streets were quiet and many places remained closed during an official five-day mourning period that ends on Thursday.
Gyanendra's ascension to the throne gives him little power - Nepalese monarchs are heads of state, but do not govern - and he will likely have a tough task gaining the support of many Nepalese.
Many Nepalese refused to believe Dipendra was the killer. Amid a dearth of official information, they gathered on street corners, exchanging gossip and conspiracy theories that may have helped fuel public anger.
After police and soldiers cleared people off streets littered with rocks and smashed bricks, officials staged an evening funeral procession for Dipendra and cremated him with Hindu rites. Soldiers fired cannon volleys in a salute after nightfall.
There was little applause and few people clasped their hands in the traditional Hindu greeting of respect as their new monarch passed. A lone supporter shouted ``long live the king,'' but nobody joined in.
Gyanendra appeared emotionless as he addressed Nepal on Monday night, which by custom any new king must do.
He ordered an investigation of the shootings, headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhaya and two committee members: House Speaker Taranath Ranabhat and opposition leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Since Dipendra was technically the king over the weekend, he was above reproach under Nepal's constitution and by tradition - so accusing him of murder would have been out of the question. At the time, Gyanendra was regent, or acting king.(SD-Agencies)
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