Thousands of Nepalis surrounded the gates of the country's revived parliament on Friday, waving party flags and chanting slogans to keep up pressure for a new constitution after weeks of street protests.
But with 84-year-old prime minister-designate Girija Prasad Koirala too sick to attend his swearing-in ceremony in the morning, the legislature was unlikely to take any major decisions to immediately satisfy the crowd, politicians said.
"Parliament will sit, but it will only be a formal sitting," said Krishna Prasad Situala, spokesman for Koirala's Nepali Congress party, the country's largest. Monks in maroon robes and women in traditional dress were among thousands of people gathered outside the gates of parliament, which was due to hold its first session in four years.
They were demanding elections be called for a special assembly to write a new constitution and review the role of the monarchy - or even abolish it.
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