Kathmandu  - Nepal's government Monday said the country's deposed king Gyanendra is ready to leave the main palace as ordered, and may move to another national palace.

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula met the former king for the fist time since the special assembly abolished the nation's monarchy last week.

"Gyanendra has not asked for an extension of the deadline, rather, he expressed his readiness to move out well before the 15-day limit set by the government," Sitaula said.

Sitaula said the former king has asked for temporary residence with a security detail, and the government was ready to consider those requests.

"During my meeting, I found the former king looking forward to living his life as an ordinary citizen," Sitaula said. "He will take a while to adjust to the new life and we must help him."

Earlier Monday, a senior minister said the government was ready to provide temporary residence for the deposed monarch.

"It appears Gyanendra needs a place to move into when he leaves Narayahiti Palace," Minister for Peace and Reconciliation Ramchandra Paudel told independent Kantipur FM radio station.

"I have already recommended to the prime minister that temporary housing arrangement be made for the former king," Paudel told the radio station. "He could live temporarily in one of the palaces that were nationalized."

Gyanendra said he would not move to his own private residence because his son and son's family were living there, the radio station said. (dpa)