Riots broke out in Nepal on Monday as angry crowds demanding the truth about the massacre of their king and other members of the royal family hurled stones at police, witnesses said. Armed riot police used teargas and batons to hold back the crowds which repeatedly tried to approach the palace where King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and six others died on Friday.

Youths on motorbikes carried pictures of the late King and Queen. Many protesters brandished sticks and threw stones at police in an upsurge of rage against the deaths of the country's popular monarchs. The crown prince, initially blamed for the shootings, was critically wounded in the incident and died on Monday morning. His uncle, Gyanendra, was crowned King of Nepal on Monday.

State radio has said the bloodbath was the result of an automatic weapon which exploded by accident. Bureau Report