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Nepal's King orders massacre probe amid riots

By staff and wire reports

KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Nepal's newly-crowned king faces an uphill battle in securing support in the wake of a controversy surrounding the weekend killings of the royal family.

Many Nepalese are refusing to accept King Gyanendra, who was crowned early Monday, after the death of his nephew, King Dipendra.

Nepali authorities imposed another curfew on the capital from noon on Tuesday to try to prevent further violence by protesters demanding the truth behind the slaughter of almost the entire royal family.

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CNN's Kasra Naji says troops have encircled Nepal's royal palace to protect newly crowned King Gyanendra, as violence breaks out across the city

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CNN's Kasra Naji with the latest on the Nepali Royal family killing

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An overnight curfew was lifted at dawn on Tuesday, but another of 12 hours reintroduced from noon (0630 GMT) as the new king began the task of winning over his people.

State radio said the curfew was imposed after some people tried to block traffic and disturb law and order.

While police tried to curb the violence with guns, clubs and a curfew, two men were killed, apparently by police gunfire, according to doctors at Kathmandu hospitals, who said they treated 19 others for injuries.

In a bid to appease the angry public, the new king has promised a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has warned Americans in Nepal to remain indoors until Tuesday and said it would urge Americans to defer travel to the country.

Probe

King Gyanendra has pledged full details within three days of the bloodbath that killed his brother, King Birendra, the Queen and six other members of the royal family and left the Crown Prince fatally wounded.

In his first television address to an angry nation -- stopped from further rioting only by an overnight curfew -- he appealed to the people's loyalty to his family dynasty.

"It has been the tradition of the Shah Dynasty to rule the country on the basis of people's aspirations and support," he said.

But Gyanendra's ascension to the throne gives him little power -- Nepalese monarchs are heads of state, but do not govern -- and he will likely have a tough task gaining the support of many Nepalese.

For the first time in the mountain kingdom's recent history, the Nepal monarch's coronation was greeted by hostility from people traumatized by a massacre of a royal family that had not been convincingly explained.

Riots

Amid a dearth of official information, Nepalese gathered on street corners, exchanging gossip and conspiracy theories that may have helped fuel public anger.

Riots broke out early Monday as angry mobs surged toward the Royal Palace, scene of the massacre that officials first blamed on the Crown Prince and then later blamed on an automatic weapon exploding by accident.

Some protesters chanted slogans against Gyanendra, their hostility hardened by the apparent unpopularity of his eldest son, Paras, likely to be heir to the throne. He is not liked because of his "wild lifestyle."

Police used teargas and batons to hold back the crowd and a curfew was imposed at 4 p.m. Nepalese time.

Youths, many with heads shaved in the Hindu mark of mourning, burned tires and shouted slogans demanding the truth.

In the deserted streets of Kathmandu late Monday night, roads were strewn with glass and stones or with burned tires.

The curfew was due to be lifted at dawn after being hurriedly imposed to restore order in the Himalayan country, which has seen three kings in four days.

The riots came after Nepalis woke to the news that King Dipendra, proclaimed monarch Saturday despite being in a coma, had died and would be succeeded by his uncle Gyanendra, who was out of town at the time of the killings.

Crowning

Gyanendra was crowned on Monday at a somber ceremony under a light drizzle at the old Monkey Gate palace -- the traditional seat of the ruling Shah dynasty.

An elderly royal priest placed a white-plumed golden crown on his head as Gyanendra, 54, sat on a raised golden throne. He later left in a royal chariot drawn by six white horses.

Thousands of spectators lined the three km (two mile) procession route, some clapping but most looking somber.

A solitary cry of "Long Live the King" rang out as the procession entered the gates of the palace where the bloodbath took place.

But no other voices joined in as the gates shut on the chariot and convoy of vehicles following it.

Confusion

Dipendra was initially blamed by officials for killing his parents reportedly after a family feud over his choice of bride, adding to the anger of local people who refused to believe the prince could commit such a crime.

Officials staged an evening funeral procession for Dipendra and cremated him with Hindu rites.

His lonely funeral was in stark contrast to that of his father King Birendra and mother Queen Aishwarya only two days before, when thousands of mourners had turned out.

Late king popular

Analysts say Gyanendra now faces a struggle to restore the role of the monarchy as a pillar of stability in the country of 22 million people where Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has faced violent street protests against his rule.

The late King Birendra enjoyed great popularity, particularly since he ceded absolute power in favor of a British-style constitutional monarchy in 1990.

Many saw him as holding together the impoverished country, racked by political infighting and Maoist insurgency.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.








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