Koirala to step up anti-King campaign

The 82-year-old Koirala, who has led the Nepal Congress, the oldest party in the kingdom, since 1997, defeated junior colleague Nara Hari Acharya by 1,215 votes to 165 late on Thursday. ‘‘The voters have used their conscience. I accept the outcome and wish Koirala success,’’ Acharya told reporters.

The centrist Nepali Congress party led a pro-democracy movement in 1990 that ended decades of absolute monarchy. But in February, King Gyanendra fired the government and seized power in a surprise move that also included the detention of politicians and the suspension of civil liberties.

On Thursday, the Nepali Congress dropped its 60-year-old written pledge to uphold constitutional monarchy in a nation where many people consider the king an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god of protection.

Meanwhile, consumer goods manufacturer Unilever reopened its plant on Friday, following the withdrawal of threats by Maoist rebels linked to the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF).

The plant in Hetauda was closed two weeks ago in apprehension of a rebel attack. The ANTUF has been demanding higher wages for factory workers and has insisted on the reinstatement of some sacked staff.

‘‘We resumed work today,’’ a company official said. Nepali media quoted the trade union group as saying it had withdrawn the threat after the plant management agreed to some of their demands. —Reuters