Nepali king to be questioned over crackdown

The panel has already grilled dozens of officials, including ministers in the royalist cabinet headed by King Gyanendra, who was forced to step down after he failed to quell weeks of often violent demonstrations in the Himalayan nation.

At least 22 people were killed and more than 5,000 wounded as troops shot and beat protesters who brought Nepal to a standstill for three weeks before the king handed power back to political parties and restored parliament.

Many officials questioned so far had blamed the government of the day for the crackdown, said Harihar Birahi, a member of the panel appointed by the interim government in response to calls for action against those responsible for the violence.