Nepal's premier quits following mass protests

Nepal’s Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa quit today, apparently forced out of office by mass street protests in the Himalayan kingdom.

His resignation, after 11 months in office, was claimed as a victory by demonstrators who have demanded the restoration of a democratic government. The protests were organised by Nepal’s five largest political parties,.

Thapa announced over state-run television that he tendered his resignation to King Gyanendra, saying: “I have tendered my resignation to the king so that a national consensus can be reached to protest multiparty democracy and the interest of the nation.”

It was not immediately clear if his resignation had been accepted.

Nepal’s political crisis began in October 2002, when the king fired Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, accusing him of incompetence and failing to end a Maoist insurgency. The king then dissolved Parliament, assumed executive powers and appointed a new government.