Maoists early leaders in Nepal elections

KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- The former communist rebels known as Maoists emerged Sunday as early leaders in Nepal's historic elections for an assembly that could formally abolish a 240-year monarchy.

Final results from the Thursday elections aren't expected for several more days. But by Saturday, the Maoists had won 34 of the 63 constituencies for which results had been declared so far, election officials said.

The Maoists, formally known as the Communist Party of Nepal, are also leading in 58 of the 110 constituencies where counting continues, according to reports in the state-run Radio Nepal.

For 10 years, the Maoists carried out an insurgency to replace the monarchy with a republic. The violence claimed 13,000 lives.

The elections come two years after a peace accord in November 2006 ended the fighting. The country's monarch, King Gyanendra, gave up most powers earlier that year after an uprising against his direct rule.

The U.S. government still consider the Maoists terrorists. Former president Jimmy Carter, who along with his human rights group helped monitor the polls, has called the U.S. policy "erroneous" and urged communication between America and the Maoists.

International observers declared the elections a success, despite violence that left three people dead -- one of them a candidate gunned down in front of a polling station. Twenty others people were killed in pre-election violence.

U.N. election observers had feared the violence would be much higher. Nepal's election commissioner estimated turnout of about 60 percent -- much higher than previous elections.

Voters in Nepal are electing an assembly that will decide whether the country continues its 240 years as a monarchy or becomes a republic, as most expect. The 601-member constituent assembly will prepare a new constitution.

The early results have caught many by surprise. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress party has won 10 seats, according election officials.

The final results will take at least a couple of weeks because the election process is a complicated one.

Two hundred and forty members will be chosen by a direct vote, 335 through proportional representation, and 26 nominated by the new cabinet.

Counting for the proportional representation system has not yet begun. E-mail to a friend

All About Nepalese Politics • King Gyanendra • Insurgencies • Nepal