Nepal parliament votes to end monarchy

Kathmandu, Dec 28 (BDPREM) - Nepal's provisional parliament approved a motion on Friday to abolish the monarchy as part of negotiations with former Maoist rebels to move a peace deal forward, live television pictures showed. The motion for Nepal to become a "federal democratic republican state" was passed by a majority of 270 votes in the 329-seat parliament. Three votes were cast against. Live TV showed parliamentary officials reading out the result. Officials said King Gyanendra would continue to live in the palace without any power until after the elections, which are expected to be held by mid-April next year.