Parliament in Nepal has voted to abolish the monarchy, as part of a peace deal with former Maoist rebels.
The decision to make Nepal a "federal democratic republican state" was taken by an overwhelming majority - 270 MPs out of 371 voted to abolish the monarchy, with only three against.
Nepal's reclusive Maoist leader
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 52, is better known under his nom-de-guerre of Prachanda (Fierce One).
The former agriculture student, born in the Annapurna region of Nepal, is the undisputed leader of the Maoists, and supreme commander of their army.
He has led a bloody 10-year war against the monarchy in the impoverished Himalayan nation.
He has three daughters and a son, who all support the Maoist movement. His wife, whom he met through the party, is also a Maoist official.
Prachanda derived his inspiration from Peru's Shining Path rebels and dreamt of setting up a communist republic.
He envisaged the erosion of class, caste and gender barriers |
