Nepal inquiry blames king for democracy crackdown

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - An inquiry report blaming Nepal's King Gyanendra for the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests last year was presented to parliament on Friday but it was not clear whether the monarch would be punished.

The report said 201 others, including ministers in the cabinet headed by the king, bureaucrats as well as army and police officers were responsible for the action against anti-king protesters which led to 22 people being killed and thousands wounded.

King Gyanendra sacked the government in 2005, became the chairman of the cabinet with absolute powers, jailed politicians and gagged the media saying he was acting to crush an anti-monarchy Maoist conflict in which thousands were killed.

But last year, mainstream political parties supported by the Maoists organised street protests, forcing the monarch to hand power back to the parties.

The report, prepared by a government-appointed panel, said the royal cabinet, including its chairman, had "misused power, authority and position and were responsible for the loss of life and property as well as the violation of human rights during the crackdown on the peaceful people's movement".

There was no immediate comment from the royal palace.

The government appointed the inquiry panel which interviewed about 300 people before preparing the report. The panel had sent questions to the king but he did not reply.

The Maoists, who began fighting against the monarchy in 1996, have since joined a multi-party cabinet under a peace deal with the new government.

Under the deal, elections for a constituent assembly are due in November to decide the fate of the monarchy.

The government has already stripped King Gyanendra of most of his powers, including control over the powerful army.