a little update - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4996502.stm Move to curb Nepal's king cheered People took to the streets in celebration as they heard the news Thousands of people in Nepal are celebrating a plan to drastically curtail the powers of King Gyanendra which was adopted on Thursday. Nepal's restored parliament voted unanimously in favour of the landmark plan which includes stripping him of control of the army. The proclamation effectively makes the king a ceremonial figure. The move follows mass street protests in April which led the king to recall parliament and end direct palace rule. The country's interim government, which took office after the king restored parliament, has declared Friday a public holiday to celebrate the proclamation. This declaration has not been able to fully address the needs and aspirations of Nepal Maoist leader Prachanda Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in celebration as soon as the news was announced on Thursday. More people are expected to take part in "victory rallies" which are being organised by the political parties on Friday. "It's a victory of the people over dictatorship," Ramesh Khadka, a 30-year old taxi driver, told AFP. Maoists react Cutting the powers of the king, who seized direct powers in 2005, was a key demand of the pro-democracy protesters who took to the streets across Nepal. Maoist rebels, who have fought for a republic for 10 years, gave the proclamation a cautious welcome but said it did not go far enough. MPs unanimously voted in favour of the proclamation "We want to make it clear that this declaration has not been able to fully address the needs and aspirations of Nepal and the Nepali people," rebel leader Prachanda said in a statement. The Maoists want to get rid of the monarchy but most of the governing coalition are non-committal on the issue. Peace talks between the government and the rebels have been announced, but no date or venue has been set. The interim government's proclamation overrides the 1990 constitution, which handed most power to parliament but kept the monarchy involved in politics. The far-reaching measures were unveiled in parliament by the new Prime Minister, GP Koirala. The plans include: bringing 90,000 troops under the direct control of the parliament taxing the royal family and its assets scrapping the royal advisory council, the Raj Parishad removing royal references from the titles of the army and government declaring Nepal a secular country, after years as the world's only Hindu kingdom. The proclamation says it will annul those articles of the current constitution which contradict it, although observers say this is likely to come under challenge in the courts at some point. Another move quietly made by the authorities was to ban demonstrations in parts of Kathmandu around the government buildings and the royal palace, just as the authorities of the previous royal government did. The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says all the measures appear to be provisional, pending the planned election of an assembly to write a completely new constitution.