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 KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Nepal's king celebrated his 60th birthday Saturday with a lavish ceremony at his palace that set off protests in the streets of Katmandu.
Calling the king a criminal, some 10,000 demonstrators demanded the abolition of the monarchy at a demonstration organized by youth and student groups affiliated with major political parties.
King Gyanendra angered many Nepalese when he seized absolute power in February 2005 and fired an interim government. He was forced to give up his authoritarian rule in April 2006 following months of pro-democracy protests and remains deeply unpopular.
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