Nepal massacre probe marred by quarrels

By staff and wire reports

KATMANDU, Nepal -- Nepal plans to proceed with an inquiry into a palace massacre despite quarrels among opposition politicians.

The three-man panel, appointed by the new King Gyanendra, had been expected to reveal its findings on the bizarre massacre by the end of the week.

But the probe is unlikely to be able to report by then, and observers say the delay could heighten tensions among Nepalese demanding answers.

While there is no official explanation for the shootings, Gyanendra has called Friday's fatal shooting an "accident," to the disbelief of many angry Nepalese.

Third curfew

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While Katmandu was calm today after two days of rioting by upset protesters, police imposed a third night of curfews on Wednesday.

Police arrested 500 people and wounded 14 people overnight Tuesday for violating a curfew imposed to quell public protests over what many are seeing as a government cover-up over the killings.

But in the absence of official details, new details have been emerging of the events surrounding the weekend massacre of most of Nepal's royal family.

Submachine gun

Nepal's Crown Prince Dipendra, had been drinking and was thrown out of a royal gathering by his father, before he returned with an assault rifle and gunned down his parents and other relatives, media and sources close to the family said on Wednesday.

Quoting an immediate relative of a witness to the killings, Dipendra walked out of the family's regular Friday night gathering at about 9 p.m. and changed into combat fatigues.

He then returned to the family gathering carrying an M-16 and an Uzi which he fired repeatedly for at least 15 minutes, virtually wiping out the Nepalese royal family.

The Crown Prince is then said to have walked out of the palace and turned one of the guns on himself.

Dipendra and his parents had sharp differences over the woman he wanted to marry.

Palace sources told The Associated Press the crown prince and his mother had sharp words that night over the young woman, Devyani Rana, the daughter of a prominent Nepali businessman and the granddaughter of an Indian maharaja.

Royal family quizzed

But in the search for answers, the commission faces the tough challenge of investigating members of a monarchy revered by millions of Nepalese.

According to the Nepalese constitution, neither the government nor any other body can interfere in or question the acts of the palace, but King Gyanendra has departed from that tradition.

For the first time in its centuries-old history, Nepal's monarchy has opened the doors of its palace to allow an investigation into the fatal shooting of 10 members of its royal family.

Members and records of the royal family, once considered beyond reproach, will be subjected to questioning by the investigative panel.

King a witness

Newly crowned King Gyanendra's wife and sister were wounded in the bloodbath and are among witnesses who could be questioned about what happened.

The team can also question people on security and other duties at the time of the shooting and will be able to inspect the scence.

A highly placed source close to the panel said the inquiry was expected to begin on Friday.

But the probe has been marred by quarrels, as members of the panel disagreed over how to get going. There were few signs of progress by Wednesday afternoon.

Legislative opposition leader Madhav Kumar Nepal of the United Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Nepal has refused to participate, saying the king's order was unconstitutional because it required the consent of the Cabinet.

The investigation is being seen as a bid by Gyanendra to win the trust of Nepalis who for the first time in recent history have greeted a new monarch with hostility.

Gyanendra's enthronement Monday was followed by rioting and protests that left two people dead and at least 19 injured.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.