Kathmandu: Three bomb blasts, believed to have been carried out by Hindu nationalists, today hit Nepal's capital city where members of the newly-elected Constituent Assembly will meet on Wednesday to abolish the country's 240-year-old monarchy.

No casualties were reported in the explosions, two of which took place outside the venue of Wednesday's Assembly, the Birender International Convention Centre, police sources said. A previously unknown Hindu nationalist outfit left a leaflet at the site claiming responsibility for the explosions, they said.

A third blast occurred in the north of the city, in front of the home of a pro-republic rights activist. Ahead of the meeting of the 601-member Assembly that will abolish the only surviving Hindu monarchy of the world, government banned rallies and stepped up vigil apprehending trouble from Maoists who planned to besiege the capital to celebrate the country's transition to a republic.

The April 10 Constituent Assembly elections saw the fiercely pro-republican Maoists emerging as the single largest party. The former rebels have also said King Gyanendra will be issued a notice to vacate the royal palace.

Devout supporters see the Nepal monarch as the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu and King Gyanendra still enjoys support of Hindu groups and some sections of the armed forces and the ruling elite.
Source : PTI