Protests banned in Nepal as assembly prepares to remove king

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.

Home Ministry official Ekmani Nepal said today that protests and rallies around the Narayanhiti royal palace and his private home have been banned to prevent trouble.

The Constituent Assembly, which meets on Wednesday, is scheduled to abolish the monarchy, forcing the king to leave the palace and live as a common citizen.

Gyanendra is expected to move to his private home where he lived before he became king in 2001 following a massacre at the royal palace.