Nepal starts counting ballots after historic election

Kathmandu: Nepalis began transporting ballot boxes to counting centres on Friday after Nepal's first election in nine years.

Early results from Kathmandu were issued on Friday, but the Election Commission said the final outcome would take more than 10 days.

Residents of Kathmandu expressed relief for a peaceful election. "Thank god it is over," said resident Brikha Bahadur Thakuri. "No matter who wins I look forward to a period of no strikes, closures and unrest."

Nepalis voted for a 601-member special assembly supposed to write a new constitution and usher in a new republic in Nepal.

The vote was central to a 2006 peace deal with Maoist rebels and marks their transformation into a legitimate political party.