Nepal gets new national anthem

Nepal launched a new national anthem replacing the previous song that praised the nation's highly unpopular monarch King Gyanendra.

The new anthem was made public by Parliament Speaker Subash Nemwang.

The song was written by local composer Byakul Maila, who won a nationwide competition to select a new anthem.

Amber Gurung, a veteran musician composed the melody.

Nepal's last national anthem praised King Gyanendra and wished him a long life, but it was scrapped soon after he was forced to give up his authoritarian rule in April 2006.

Gyanendra has been stripped of his powers and a special assembly to be elected later this year will decide whether Nepal should continue to have a king.