Page last updated at 12:21 GMT, Thursday, 10 April 2008 13:21 UK

In pictures: Nepal votes

Nepalese men and women queue up to cast their ballots in Kathmandu on 10 April 2008

People in Nepal are voting in nationwide elections that so far have been mostly peaceful. The new national assembly will re-write the country's constitution.

Nepalese men queue to cast their ballots in Kathmandu

The election, the first since 1999, is expected to bring an end to the country's 240-year-old monarchy.

Nepalese men queue to cast their ballots in Kathmandu

People began queuing early to cast their votes. The election follows a 2006 ceasefire agreed between the government and Maoist rebels.

An election official marks the hand of former rebel leader and present chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda.

The former Maoist rebel Prachanda - now a mainstream politician - cast his vote in Bharatpur, 90km south of Kathmandu. The Maoists have campaigned vigorously to abolish the monarchy.

A Maoist soldier patrols the area outside a polling station where Prachanda voted

Security was tight across Nepal. Observers say the mostly peaceful atmosphere was in contrast to violence preceding the poll. There are indications of a high turnout.

Maoist soldiers line up to cast their ballots

Former Maoist soldiers cast their votes at a polling station inside the United Nations-administered Shaktikhor Cantonment, some 90kms south of Kathmandu.

Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala casts his vote in Biratnagar

Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala votes at a polling station in his home town of Biratnagar, some 200km from Kathmandu.

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