Kathmandu  - The Nepalese government banned demonstrations outside the royal palace and the private residence of King Gyanendra in Kathmandu ahead of a meeting of an assembly that was expected to formally abolish the monarchy, official media reported Monday.

The Kathmandu district administration office imposed the order to maintain peace and security, the official Rising Nepal newspaper said.

The ban went into effect Monday and is to continue until further notice.

The ban covers the roads around the Narayanhiti Royal Palace; the area around Nirmal Niwas, Gyanendra's private residence; the venue of the assembly meeting in central Kathmandu; the prime minister's official residence; and the Chinese embassy.

The ban came two days before the newly elected constituent assembly convenes to draft a new constitution and was expected to ratify the interim parliament's decision to abolish the monarchy.

The Maoists had threatened to call on their supporters to march to the royal palace if the assembly fails to abolish the monarchy and declare the country a republic in its first sitting.

Other parties have called on their supporters to organize rallies across the country to mark Wednesday as a republic day to celebrate the end of the monarchy.

Calls to abolish the monarchy have grown since Gyanendra dismissed the country's elected politicians and seized power in February 2005. Mass street protests the next year prompted Gyanendra's resignation and returned control to seven political parties that led the demonstrations.

The Maoists emerged as the biggest party in April 10 elections and were expected to head the government.

However, talks on the formation of a new government with the Nepali Congress, the Maoists and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninists have made little headway. (dpa)