Kathmandu, June 3: Some form of normalcy returned to the capital Sunday as a shocked nation recovered from the assassination of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya in a shoot-out at the Royal Palace Friday night during a weekend party. Six other members of the royal family were injured and Crown Prince Dipendra, who has been declared King, is struggling for his life at the Birendra Military Hospital; six others have been injured, published reports said.

Shops reopened after a voluntarily closure Saturday and vehicles were  again plying the busy streets. The King, Queen and other members of the  royal family were cremated Saturday night with full state honors at Pashupati’s Aryaghat Saturday night as the biggest crowd in recent memory gathered along the streets to bid a tearful adieu to the royal couple. The crowd shouted slogans for the King and against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala whose car was pelted with stones as police restored to firing in the air at several points during the funeral procession Saturday.

World leaders continued to mourn the death of a popular monarch. Pakistan’s Chief Executive Gen.Pervez Musharraf said: The late King was a popular monarch who made a singular contribution to the democratic evolution of Nepal and will hold a very special place n the history of his country.
” The Secretary General is profoundly shocked by the reported killing Friday evening of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya as well as other members of the royal family. He is deeply saddened tragedy. The Secretary General extends his heartfelt condolences to the people of Nepal and calls for calm and stability,” a statement issued by UN headquarters in New York said. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and  Prince Charles, Pope John Paul II and others also expressed their condolences. A regional meeting of seven foreign secretaries of SAARC to be held in Colombo this week has been postponed. nepalnews.com br