Today in Asian History - Nepal's King Stripped of Power

On May 18, 2006, the parliament of Nepal voted unanimously to strip the King of his powers.

In addition, Nepal was declared officially a secular state (rather than a Hindu one), control of 90,000 troops passed from the wildly unpopular King Gyanendra to the Parliament, and the royal family's property was taxed for the first time.

On May 29, 2008, the king was deposed entirely. The leader of the Maoist rebels, Prachanda, became Prime Minister.

Photo by Paula Bronstein / Getty Images.