Kathmandu - A day after the Nepalese assembly voted overwhelming to abolish the monarchy, the royal flag at the palace in the capital Kathmandu has been lowered and replaced by a national flag, officials said Thursday.

"The flag with royal insignia at the main gate of the palace has been replaced by the national flag," the Nepalese home ministry said. "The move is in line with the ruling of the special assembly on Wednesday."

The symbolic move was part of Nepal's efforts to implement the ruling of the special assembly which Wednesday formally abolished the monarchy and ended the
240-year rule of the Shah Dynasty.

However, media reports said the former king Gyanendra and his family still remained at the palace.

The special assembly has given him and his family 15 days to vacate the palace.

Gyanendra has not formally commented on Wednesday's vote but is expected to accept the decision and move out of the palace soon.

Politicians close to the former monarch have said Gyanendra will not leave the country and go into exile.

The Maoists, who emerged as the biggest winners in the April elections, say he would be allowed to remain in the country as a citizen and pursue his businesses.

Nepal's last king Gyanendra became unpopular after he seized full executive powers in February 2005 and jailed top politicians.

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