KATMANDU, Nepal, June 24 (UPI) -- The United States and India are backing a plan to install a 5-year-old as the new king of the disgraced monarchy in Nepal, it was reported Sunday.
The plan to save the monarchy calls for installing the grandson of the present king, The Times of London reported. The United States and India fear Nepal will fall further into the hands of Maoist rebels if the 240-year-old throne is abolished, the newspaper said.
The monarchy could continue if King Gyanendra, 59, and his unpopular son, Crown Prince Paras, 35, abdicate in favor of Paras' son Prince Hridayendra, age 5, Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala proposed last week.
Gyanendra became king in 2001 after his older brother and most senior members of the royal family were killed by Crown Prince Dipendra, 29, who then killed himself. Since becoming king, Gyanendra has faced successive humiliations, including having his face removed from banknotes.
"What Nepal needs now is a harmless monarchy," said a Nepalese politician with close ties to the royal family.
