Nepalese prince leaves hospital

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Crown Prince Paras, 36, son of Nepalese King Gyanendra, left a Kathmandu hospital Wednesday, a week after being admitted with a heart attack.

During his stay, the prince underwent angioplasty to clear a blocked artery, Nepalnews.com reported. Following the procedure, Paras was kept in the coronary care unit for three days.

The prince’s family reportedly has a history of heart problems.

The prince and his embattled father have become unpopular in the country because of scandals and the crackdown on the democracy movement last year. Since then, Gyanendra has been stripped of virtually all royal powers.

Gyanendra’s Shah dynasty has ruled the Himalayan kingdom for two centuries but that might end if the constituent assembly to be elected in November decides to do away with monarchy and convert the country into a republic.

Gyanendra assumed the throne in 2001 after his older brother King Birendra and his family were killed in a palace massacre.