Deposed Nepal king vacates palace

Katmandu: Nepal's deposed king left Katmandu's main palace on Wednesday night to begin life as a civilian in the newly declared republic but said he had no plans to leave the country.

The former king pulled out of the palace gates in an armoured black Mercedes car at about 8:45 p.m. (1500 GMT), followed by a police and army escort. A few loyalist
onlookers shouted that Gyanendra should not leave, but most of the several hundred people gathered there were happy to see him go.

"I have no intention or thoughts to leave the country," Gyanendra said earlier in his first public statement in months. "I will stay in the country to help establish
peace."

Gyanendra's throne was formally abolished last month, but Wednesday's move carries great symbolism in a nation that was ruled by Shah dynasty monarchs for 239 years.

"This marks the beginning of a new Nepal and the end of a dynasty that has done nothing but harm this country," said Devendra Maharjan, a farmer who came to Katmandu to see the king leave the palace. "If it had not been for the kings, Nepal would probably not have remained a poor nation."

"I would like to live in my Motherland and contribute in whatever way possible to the greater good of the country and peace in this land," he said, reading a statement in Nepali Narayanhiti palace hours before he was due to depart.

Gyanendra was ordered to leave the palace when his centuries old monarchy was abolished by Nepal's Maoist Parliament.

He will be allowed to continue his business interests, and is believed to have a substantial fortune in tea, tobacco and casinos.

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