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CNN Live Saturday

Crown Prince Shoots Royal Family in Nepal

Aired June 02, 2001 - 15:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: In Nepal, mourners lined the streets of Kathmandu today to watch the funeral procession for their royal family. The king, queen and several others, all allegedly slain by an heir to the throne. CNN's Kasra Naji has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): People of Kathmandu gave an emotional farewell to their royal family. Hundreds of thousands lined up the streets of Kathmandu to get the last glimpse. The procession carried the bodies of the king, the queen, their son, their daughter and their granddaughter. They were later put on wood pyres to burn, according to Hindu tradition.

Many here are shocked and still cannot believe what happened here at the royal palace.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): It was bad in the country before, but at least we had a royal family. But what can we do now?

NAJI: Sources close to the royal family said the king and the queen and at least eight other members of the royal family were killed here, as they gathered at the palace for a dinner party. This is when the crown prince Dipendra walked in with an automatic rifle, shooting at everyone in the room before turning the gun on himself. Just why is not clear. He is critically wounded and remains in a coma here at the military hospital.

But surprisingly, the state council, which is the council of elder statesmen, close to the court, has named the crown prince as the next king.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The first son of his majesty the king and heir to the throne, Dipendra Bir Bikram Shadev has been proclaimed the king in accordance with the law, custom and usage relating to the succession to the throne.

NAJI: Many people here are baffled by the decision of the state council. The question is, why the crown prince, the man who is said to be responsible for the carnage, has been named as the next king?

Kasra Naji, CNN, Kathmandu.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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