Nepalese King gives up 'emergency' powers

5.05.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Apr 2006

Nepal flag

It may have slipped by but Nepal has been the scene of much protesting of recent and the King had imposed curfews. The protests are about the King and how he has been running Nepal, this dates back to when he effectively seized power in February 2005 - the BBC has a good time line on what has been happening in Nepal at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/country_profiles/1166516.stm

However yesterday the King mad a speech in which he invited the country's principle political parties to name a new prime minister. Whilst it stops far short of the what the protesters are demanding (the King to resign) it may be the beginning of the end.

Today has seen mass protests - ignoring the daytime curfews. People are carrying party flags and broken of branches of small trees, symbolising victory and are calling on the King to leave Nepal.

Obviously I hope this gets resolved as peacefully and as fast as possible, but especially as my friend Andrew is on his way to Nepal on his 'gap-year'. I'll be keeping an eye out for any news and will update this site with what I find out.