Sailendra Kharel, Nepal
LONG, RUGGED ROAD TO REPUBLIC

In Nepal, more than 13,000 people have been killed and over 100,000 displaced since the communist rebels launched their armed struggle against the state in 1996. King Gyanendra's direct rule ended in April 2006 after the rebels entered talks on how to end the civil war. A landmark peace deal was agreed upon in November, and in early 2007, the Maoists joined an interim government, finally entering mainstream politics after fighting a decade-long armed conflict.

April 10, 2008, was a historic day for the people of Nepal. On this day, the Nepali people were able to vote, for the first time, for a constituent assembly and to decide their own fate, the fate of the monarchy and to write their own constitution.

The CPN-Maoist political party won the highest number of seats, and became the largest political party of Nepal. The country has been declared as a Republic, doing away with the 239-year-old monarchy of the Shah dynasty.