Nepal's former king says accusations against him are false

Kathmandu - Nepal's deposed king Gyanendra Wednesday went on national television and radio to make an impassioned speech rejecting accusations in Nepalese media of amassing wealth. 'I have played a role to support the decisions of the constituent assembly on May 28 in order to make its implementation easy,' Gyanendra said, referring to the vote which abolished monarchy. The former king's speech came just hours ahead of his scheduled departure from the main Narayanhiti Palace to lead the life of an ordinary citizen in a newly-declared republic. Gyanendra's speech was surprisingly devoid of his reference to the political parties or the Maoists who together acted as a catalyst to end the monarchy in Nepal or his bitterness in being voted out. He however, devoted much of his speech to countering allegations in the media that he and his family had misused government money, sold off inherited properties and kept money in foreign banks along with the circumstances under which he became the king. 'All my properties or money is in Nepal and I have no foreign bank accounts nor have I transferred inherited properties into my personal name,' Gyanendra said. He said he could do nothing but tolerate allegations and insinuations against him and his family over the shooting incident in the Narayanhiti Palace in 2001 which killed nine people including the then king Birendra and his entire family. 'There was no way out nor were there anyone who could speak in our support,' Gyanendra said. 'There were consorted efforts on several media to discredit me and my family and take advantage of the situation.' He said there had been strategies to bring a rift between the people and the royal family. Gyanendra made it very clear that he would not leave the country and go into exile.