KATMANDU, Nepal - Nepal's parliament has voted in favour of abolishing the centuries-old monarchy and turning the Himalayan country into a republic.
Officials say the decision to actually remove the king will be implemented only after elections to a special assembly expected by mid-April.
The vote endorsed an agreement reached earlier by Nepal's main political parties, including the former rebels widely known as Maoists.
Speaker Subash Nembwang says more than two-thirds of the members voted in favour of amending the interim constitution.
The amendment says that Nepal is to be turned into a federal democratic republic, with all the powers of the state to be held by the prime minister.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula says today's vote ensures that the king will be removed immediately after elections.
It initially was agreed last year that the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly would decide the fate of the king. Now there will be no voting and it is certain the king will be removed.
The Maoists gave up their armed revolt and joined the peace process in April 2006 after weeks of pro-democracy protests forced King Gyanendra to give up his authoritarian rule. The Maoists joined Parliament last January and the government three months later.
They withdrew from the government in September demanding immediate removal of the king. Since then, Nepal has been facing a political crisis and elections planned for November also were postponed.
