The man appointed as the caretaker King of Nepal has given a new version of the killings of the country's King and Queen and other members of the royal family. Prince Gyanendra, who was named as Regent yesterday, said the deaths on Friday were caused by the accidental firing of an automatic weapon. His statement did not say who was holding the gun when it was fired.
Prince Gyanendra's account of the deaths has fuelled speculation and provoked resentment among ordinary Nepalese, who say that they are being kept in the dark. Prince Gyanendra is not a particularly popular figure and most greeted his statement about an "accident" with derision. Angry crowds, some members sporting shaved heads as a sign of mourning, have taken to the streets of the capital, Kathmandu, demanding a full explanation of events.
The most widely-believed version of what happened was partially confirmed in comments later retracted by Home Minister Ram Chandra Paudel. Crown Prince Dipendra is said to have gunned down his parents, brother, sister and four other relatives with a semi-automatic weapon before shooting himself. His actions were believed to have been triggered by a bitter row during a family dinner over his parents' refusal to sanction his choice of bride. He is said to be in a coma in hospital.
