Nepal’s first pro-republic leader passes away

Nepal's first pro-republic leader Ramraja Prasad Singh, who led a violent protest to push for the abolition of monarchy, died here on Wednesday at the age of 77.

Singh breathed his last at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. He was suffering from multiple problems including high blood pressure, nervous disorder and Parkinson's disease. The veteran revolutionary leader, who was considered as a hero by anti-royalists, would be given state honour with a 13-cannon salute before cremation. Singh was the main contender of presidential election in 2008 after the abolition of monarchy from the country. He was backed by Maoist chief Prachanda during the first presidential election but he lost the contest to Dr Rambaran Yadav.