Nepal Parliament passes proclamation

Nepal's Parliament slashed Gyanendra's powers with the adoption of a proclamation ending the monarch's control over the army.

Nepal's Parliament unanimously passed a proclamation on Thursday that slashed the political powers of King Gyanendra and took away his control of the army.

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"No nays were heard against the proclamation so I declare the proclamation has been unanimously passed," said Subhash Nemwang, speaker of the recently reconvened Parliament.

"The proclamation reflects the spirit of the people's aspirations," said Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala before asking the speaker to read it out to Parliament.

King Gyanendra was forced to give up absolute rule in late April after mass pro-democracy demonstrations, organised by seven political parties in loose alliance with Maoist rebels, that left 19 protesters dead.