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Nepal: High-powered committee
set up to study probe report

The Nepal government on Friday set up a high-powered committee headed by the chief secretary to study the report of the official probe into the June one palace massacre and suggest means to implement its recommendations that included strengthening the security of the palace.

State-run Nepal Radio said the five-member secretary-level committee had been asked to submit its report to the cabinet within five days.

Besides the chief secretary, the committee included secretaries of crucial ministries of home, defence, foreign affairs and information and communication, it said.

The two-member official panel headed by Chief Justice K P Upadhyaya, in its report made public on Thursday, had blamed crown prince Dipendra for the palace massacre.

It had suggested among other things strengthening of security of the palace and the royals.

Meanwhile, preparations are afoot at the Narayanhity palace for the 13th day ritual of late King Birendra and Dipendra on Saturday, which would mark the end of the state mourning in the Himalayan Kingdom.

The 13th day ceremony will be attended by His Majesty King Gyanendra, members of the royal family, the cabinet led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and other dignitaries, palace spokesman M B Pandey said.

Late King Birendra's 13th day ritual was scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed as Wednesday is not considered auspicious in Nepal.

The national flag, which has been flying at half-mast since June one, will fly at full mast from 1300 hours on Saturday.

Shops, which had downed their shutters early on Thursday evening apprehending violence, opened in on Friday morning and people went about with their normal business. Many business establishments remained open till late in the night indicating the growing sense of security among the people.

A large number of foreign journalists, who had flown in specially to cover the developments in Nepal, had started returning home.

Tribhuvan International Airport, which wore a deserted look during the curfew imposed in the wake of large scale violence a few days back, witnessed hectic activity as a large number of tourists arrived to be welcomed by a hoarding put up by the country's tourism board which said 'Nepal, Festival of Life'.

PTI

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