Nepal govt clears out all the king's men

The cabinet on Sunday night revoked all appointments made by King Gyanendra since parliament was dissolved in 2002. In addition, 12 royally appointed ambassadors including those to the United States, India, Britain and China, were recalled.

The decisions were implemented with "immediate effect" Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat told AFP.

Gyanendra was forced to end his absolute rule of the Himalayan nation last month, after weeks of massive protests crippled Nepal, killing 19 protesters and injuring hundreds.

Opposition parties in concert with rebel Maoists claimed a "people's victory" over the monarch, and the new government and rebels have both declared ceasefires and outlined plans to form a constituent assembly, a body to amend the constitution and clip the powers of the king.

The attorney general, heads of the national planning and women's commissions, and the chairmen of the state-run television station and news agency have all already resigned, the Rising Nepal reported Monday.

In parliament on Sunday, MP's demanded the resignation of the chief justice and the suspension of the heads of the security forces.

To date, the new interim government has appointed only a core cabinet of seven members who replaced dozens of the king's ministers.

Scores of hastily vacated positions in the administration remain unfilled.

However with fears widespread of a return to the cronyism that has long plagued Nepal, the head of the national journalists association warned that new government appointments should be made on merit, not connections.

"We have witnessed in the past that the political parties have recruited people with political affiliations. This should not be repeated," said Bishnu Nisthuri, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists.

The sweeping of the decks is a natural progression after the mass protests brought the political parties back into government, said Kapil Shrestha, a professor of politics at Tribhuvan University

"Now the parties should not damage their image in the public while making new appointments. They should be careful and responsible and give the chance to deserving ones," Shrestha said.

Last week, the government annulled the results of controversial local elections held in February as part of Gyanendra's ill-fated "roadmap to democracy," prompting concern by some diplomats that rebel Maoists could increase their influence in rural areas.

"That's quite dangerous because it leaves a gap for the Maoists which will give them more local control, so when it comes to constituent assembly elections, through fair means or foul, they will have more influence," said a Western diplomat on condition of anonymity.