Nepal held elections Thursday to decide whether to end King Gyanendra's monarchy and make the Himalayan nation a republic. International observers called the election a success despite violence that left two people dead.

The BBC Sunday said the Maoists won 42 out of 76 seats declared and the Maoist leader, Prachandra, won a seat in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu.

Further results for the 601-seat national assembly are expected in the coming days, although more than half of those decided by proportional representation may not be decided for several weeks.