Nepal goes to the polls

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.

While the two days preceding the Himalayan nation’s vote were marred by violence – one candidate was mysteriously gunned down, a protester was shot by police and six former rebels were slain in a clash with police – there were no reports of fresh attacks as polling got under way.