Kathmandu - The Nepalese government on Friday formally asked the country's last king to vacate Kathmandu's royal palace, two days after a decision to abolish the monarchy, officials said.

"The letter was handed over to the palace secretariat and is expected to be delivered to the former king later Friday," a Home Affairs Ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.

"The letter formally asks the king to vacate the palace within 15 days as per the assembly's decision," the official said, referring to the vote Wednesday during the first meeting of the constituent assembly, which is to draft a new constitution.

Meanwhile, the government said former king Gyanendra and his family remained in the palace but expected them to move out over the coming days.

"He still remains at Narayanhiti palace," Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala said. "He will move out of the palace after coordinating with the government."

On Thursday, several hundred people gathered outside the palace, calling on the former king to vacate it. They later clashed with police who tried to remove them from the area.

In a symbolic move, the royal standard was lowered from the palace and replaced with the national flag.

Despite the end of the monarchy, politicians close to Gyanendra have repeatedly said he would not leave the country and go into exile.

The Maoists, who emerged as the largest party after April's constituent assembly elections, said Gyanendra would be allowed to remain in the country as a citizen and pursue business.

Gyanendra became unpopular after he seized full executive powers in February 2005 and jailed top politicians.

He was forced to give up power 14 months later after a mass uprising. Since then, he has been stripped of all powers and had remained the king only in name.

The vote in the constituent assembly brought to an end the 240 years of the Shah Dynasty, which had ruled Nepal since its unification. (dpa)