The Himalayan nation of Nepal has become the world’s newest republic, ending 240 years of monarchy in the tiny mountain state.
Nepalese people celebrated wildly in the streets after the historic vote by the 601-seat constituent assembly, which stated that the country was “an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular and an inclusive democratic republic nation.”
The deeply-unpopular King Gyanendra has been given two weeks to vacate his palace, which will be transformed into a museum, but will be free to stay in Nepal as a private citizen.
“We are pleased to see the demise of the archaic, medieval system of monarchic rule in Nepal,” said Prime Minister Gordon Brown. “It is an affront to fairness and democracy that such an anachronistic and totally unrepresentative institution should have survived into the modern age. How ridiculous that ultimate power should be invested in an unelected head of state who is completely cut off from the trials and tribulations of ordinary people.”
He then went to Buckingham Palace for his weekly policy discussion with the Queen, who told him much the same thing.
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