Leaders of Nepal’s top three parties have agreed that the new constitution should include direct elections for president and the creation of 11 federal states.

Nepal's former crown prince was arrested today for firing a gun into the air after an argument in a restaurant.

Markets reopened for business, vehicles returned to the streets and some banks allowed customers to withdraw cash in Nepal today after the former communist rebels ended their debilitating six-day general strike.

A bomb hidden in a bag at a busy bus station in southern Nepal exploded, killing two people and wounding 12 others, officials said today.

Nepal’s five former Communist rebels have quit the country’s interim government in an effort to force the current prime minister out and allow them to form a new administration.

A senior minister says the government is likely to allow Nepal’s deposed king to live in the summer palace just northwest of the capital, Katmandu.

The world’s last Hindu kingdom became its newest secular republic as Nepal’s MPs, led by former Communist rebels, abolished the monarchy that had reigned over the Himalayan land for 239 years.

NEPAL’S lawmakers abolished the monarchy and declared the country a republic yesterday, ending 239 years of royal rule in the Himalayan nation.

Nepal opened the first session of a newly elected parliament today with a resolution to abolish the monarchy and declare a republic, ending 239 years of royal rule.

Nepalese officials say protests around King Gyanendra’s palace and house have been banned ahead of his removal by a special assembly later this week.

Nepal authorities said today they finished vote-counting and were preparing to announce results from elections for a constitutional assembly, the first since communist rebels gave up their insurgency and joined mainstream politics.

The former leader of Nepal’s Maoist insurgency captured a seat today on a new assembly that will chart the Himalayan country’s future, election officials said.

The former leader of Nepal’s bloody Maoist insurgency captured a seat today on a new assembly that will chart the Himalayan country’s future, election officials said.

Voting in Nepal began today in a historic election intended to bring communist insurgents into the country’s democratic mainstream and expected to bring an end to a monarchy that has ruled for centuries.

Nepal’s government has agreed to abolish the monarchy in a deal to persuade former insurgents to join the government.