KATHMANDU, April 28: Nepal’s parliament forged ahead with plans to trim the powers of the monarch in its first sitting for four years on Friday, but the ailing premier stayed away.

Legislators enthusiastically backed a plan for a new constitution as the prize for forcing King Gyanendra to hand over power to parliament following nearly three weeks of often bitter protests.

King Gyanendra climbed down on Monday following 14 months of outright rule. He had seized power accusing the then government of corruption and failing to quell a decade-long Maoist insurgency.

In a 35-minute session, deputy speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav said the House would call for a ceasefire and talks with Maoist rebels, whose rebellion has left at least 12,500 people dead.

In a sign of growing anti-royal sentiment, a ceremonial royal staff that has been the usual prelude to the opening of parliamentary sessions for the last 15 years was not brought in.

“Welcome to all the members. We express our gratitude to those who died in the democracy struggle,” said the deputy speaker at the opening session and called for a period of silence.

“In order to save the country from the on-going political crisis, this parliament meeting has decided to form a new constituent assembly to go for a new constitution,” Yadav said, to lengthy applause from the crowded chamber with most of the 205 members attending.

Premier Girija Prasad Koirala, 84, missed the meeting and his swearing in at the royal palace as he recovered from bronchitis. But he told legislators in a statement that he believed he could assume his duties.

“I believe that I will be able to fulfil my responsibility as my health is gradually recovering,” he said in a statement read out by the speaker.

He said he would take office in the name of the parties and the people who had taken the streets of the country, leaving at least 15 dead during clashes between police and security forces.

On Monday, King Gyanendra agreed in a televised address to reinstate parliament, buckling after 19 days of protests on the streets of the capital and around the nation.—AFP