King Gyanendra names son Paras as Crown Prince

KATHMANDU, Oct 26 (DPA) Nepals Monarch King Gyanendra today named his unpopular son, Prince Paras, as the countrys new Crown Prince,state-run media reported.

A Nepalese royal palace communique broadcast over Radio Nepaltoday said King Gyanendra also named Crown Prince Paras wife,Himani, as Crown Princess.

The kings move coincided with Nepals biggest Hindu festival ofbada dasain with todays bijaya dashmi being the most important day.

King gyanendra ascended the nepalese throne on june 4 followingthe june 1 massacre when king birendra and queen aishwarya, amongother royals, were gunned down by crown prince dipendra who laterturned the gun on himself.

King gyanendra declared his wife, komal, as her majesty the queenin the royal proclamation of june 4, but refrained from namingprince paras as crown prince.

Crown prince paras, 30, in the past was reported to have indulgedin wild and irresponsible behaviour under the influence of alcohol,and pulled a gun on uniformed police officer who tried to stop him.

He is also alleged to have been involved in several drunk drivingincidents that resulted in the deaths of two people.

The events led to calls by the nepalese media to then kingbirendra to strip prince paras of his royal privileges so he couldface charges like an ordinary citizen.