Nepal update: Maoists take the lead
Tuesday, 15 Apr 2008 12:10
With vote counting following Nepal's general election last week nearing halfway, it appears the Maoist party may win a majority.
The former insurgents have won 112 of the 196 seats decided so far, with a total of 601 seats in the assembly to be allocated.
Centrist party Nepali Congress has won 30 seats, the election commission said.
Senior Maoist figure Prababkher has already started talking about Nepal's future as a republic.
"The monarchy is finished. There should be no doubt about that, it's just a matter of procedure," Prababkher told the AFP news agency.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises that the election on April 10th was largely peaceful, although there were a number of violent incidents and at least four people were killed.
Voter turnout was estimated at more than 60 per cent, according to the Election Commission.
The FCO warns that Nepal remains politically volatile and advises travellers to avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings.