Nepal’s parliament speaker said communists have agreed to stop blocking parliamentary proceedings so that politicians can choose a new government.

Troops were deployed to protect key areas of Nepal’s capital Katmandu today – a day after police clashed in the streets with protesting communists who are demanding that the president back the firing of the country’s army chief.

Nepal’s political parties were holding crisis talks on forming a new coalition government today after the prime minister resigned in a power struggle with the president over enlisting former Maoist rebels into the military.

NEPAL’S prime minister resigned yesterday amid a power struggle over his firing of the army chief, saying he was stepping down to “save the peace process” that brought the Himalayan nation out of a decade-long civil war.

Tens of thousands of troops and police fanned out across parts of India today as polling stations opened in the world's biggest democratic exercise.

A plan to build a monument on the site of Nepal’s royal massacre in 2001 has enraged archaeologists and museum officials, it was reported today.

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.

Nepal’s Maoist former rebels continued today to sweep initial results announced in elections key to a peace process that saw them give up their 10-year armed revolt.

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.

United Nations’ human rights officers in Nepal today said it has raised concern with communist rebels over the use of children in political rallies.

Nepal’s opposition alliance called off weeks of devastating pro-democracy protests today after King Gyanendra gave in to a demand to reinstate Parliament, but Maoist insurgents quickly rejected the royal announcement.

Suspected Maoist militants triggered an explosion near a truck jammed with passengers today in central India, killing 23 people.

The US welcomed the end of emergency rule in Nepal and the release of several top politicians, but wants King Gyanendra to do more to restore full democracy.

The United States has urged its citizens to stay away from Nepal following the bombing of a US information centre and fears that Americans could be attacked by Maoist rebels.

A strike called by Maoist rebels has shut down Nepal as businesses closed and vehicles stayed off the road for a second day.