Nepal panel decides to question King Gyanendra

NEPAL: A commission in Nepal investigating a violent crackdown on anti-monarchy demonstrators earlier this year has taken the unprecedented step of deciding to question the king, officials said Thursday.

The commission - investigating police firings on demonstrations calling for an end to King Gyanendra's direct rule - had decided to question the monarch himself and were preparing a list of questions, member Harihar Birahi said.

It had not been determined, however, whether Gyanendra would be summoned to the commission office, if investigators would go to the palace or if written questions would be sent to the king, Birahi said.

Kathmandu, Thursday, AP