Key royal adviser dies in Nepal

KATHMANDU: A prominent and controversial adviser to Nepal's embattled King Gyanendra has died, an official said on Friday.   

Satchit Shumshere Rana, the country's former army chief and a tireless defender of the 238-year-old monarchy, died at a military hospital early Friday, army spokesman Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri, said.   

The 74-year-old was the head of the army during the 1990 democracy movement, when scores of people protesting against the current King's brother were shot and killed.   

He was also a key player in King Gyanendra's much-criticised takeover in 2005, when the King assumed total rule after sacking the government, accusing them of corruption and failing to tackle the Maoist insurgency.   

Rana was a member of the now-scrapped royal privy council, and has been investigated for his role in the suppression of last year's massive demonstrations that forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament.   

Since the climbdown last April, Gyanendra has been stripped of most of his powers, including his position as head of the state and his control of the army.   

Nepal's Maoists, who have entered parliament and government after signing a peace deal last November, have threatened to launch new mass protests unless the monarchy is abolished.   

The fate of the royals was supposed to be decided in polls scheduled for June, but Nepal's top election official has said that ballots are not possible as more preparation time is needed.