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Maoists heading for big majority Nepal king told: 'Go gracefully'
(about 2 hours later)
Nepal's Maoists are on course to win three times more seats than the next largest party in elections to form an assembly to write a new constitution. A senior Maoist leader in Nepal has urged the country's beleaguered King Gyanendra to step down "gracefully."
The Maoists have won 116 out of the 215 seats declared so far, far more than many analysts had expected. Baburam Bhattarai, second-in-command of the former rebel movement, told the AFP news agency that such a move would pave the way for a democratic republic.
The Maoists are now expected to secure an absolute majority. He was speaking as his party was on course to win three times more seats than the next largest party in elections to form an assembly.
The Maoists have won 116 out of the 215 seats declared so far.
That is far more than many analysts had expected and they are now tipped to secure an absolute majority.
Republic
Mr Bhattarai said there would be no going back on plans to get rid of the monarchy and the king had little choice but to go.
Nepal's election shock
"In the first meeting of the constituent assembly we will declare the country a republic, then we will notify the king to leave the palace," he said.
"As an ordinary citizen, he will have to abide by the law."
Meanwhile the army and business leaders have said they are confident that they will be able to do business with the newly elected government.Meanwhile the army and business leaders have said they are confident that they will be able to do business with the newly elected government.
New start
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that the Maoists are continuing to surprise even themselves as their vote tally increases.The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that the Maoists are continuing to surprise even themselves as their vote tally increases.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7348049.stm">Nepal's election shock They are performing well both in the race for directly elected seats to the new assembly, and in those seats allocated under a proportional system.
They are performing well both in the race for directly elected seats to the new assembly as well as well as those seats allocated under a proportional system. Optimism
Our correspondent says that there is a sense of something new developing in Nepal and a mood of optimism that the former rebels - who have moved from the battlefield to forming a likely government in less than two years - can give Nepal the new start that it needs.Our correspondent says that there is a sense of something new developing in Nepal and a mood of optimism that the former rebels - who have moved from the battlefield to forming a likely government in less than two years - can give Nepal the new start that it needs.
Sectors previously wary of the former rebels are now putting out feelers towards them.Sectors previously wary of the former rebels are now putting out feelers towards them.
A senior army figure, Brig Gen Shiva Ram Pradhan, has expressed the willingness of the military to work with the new government. A senior army figure, Brigadier General Shiva Ram Pradhan, has expressed the willingness of the military to work with the new government.
The king's days appear to be numbered
The chairman of the country's chamber of commerce has praised Maoist leaders for their promise to listen to the private sector when working out economic policy.The chairman of the country's chamber of commerce has praised Maoist leaders for their promise to listen to the private sector when working out economic policy.
Meanwhile the US - which regards the Maoists as terrorists - has congratulated the Nepalese people for holding elections which it says were mostly peaceful. The US - which regards the Maoists as terrorists - has congratulated the Nepalese people for holding elections which it says were mostly peaceful.
It said that it looked forward to an assembly that reflected the people's will.It said that it looked forward to an assembly that reflected the people's will.
But in what our correspondent says are clear signs that things are not going to change overnight, there have been reports that Maoist youth league members have attacked members of other parties in outlying districts.But in what our correspondent says are clear signs that things are not going to change overnight, there have been reports that Maoist youth league members have attacked members of other parties in outlying districts.
The former rebels on Tuesday said that the abolition of the monarchy was now just a "matter of procedure".The former rebels on Tuesday said that the abolition of the monarchy was now just a "matter of procedure".
"The monarchy is finished. There should be no doubt about that, it's just a matter of procedure," senior Maoist official Prababkher, who uses one name, told the AFP news agency.