Bomb explosion linked to royal massacre

A small bomb planted by suspected Maoist rebels has exploded in front of the chief justice's home in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.

No-one has sustained injuries in the attack.

The chief justice had recently headed an inquiry into the royal palace massacre in which King Birendra, Queen Aiswarya and seven other royal family members were killed.

The inquiry committee's report said that Crown Prince Dipendra, high on drugs and alcohol, gunned down his parents and the other royals.

The rebels disagree with the findings, saying the massacre was a conspiracy. They blame new king Gyanendra for the killings.

The bomb was planted under a tree about 10 feet from the main entrance of Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhaya's house.

His official residence is next door to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's home.

The area is a high security zone guarded by armed military personnel.

Last week, a small explosive dangling from a red Maoist banner went off in a busy Kathmandu market, injuring a policeman.

The Maoists are fighting to end Nepal's constitutional monarchy.

In February, they attacked a group of cars escorting the chief justice, killing at least five people in remote west-central Nepal. Upadhaya escaped unhurt.

More than 1,600 people have been killed since the guerrillas began their violent campaign for a republic five years ago.