World

Nepal election: First poll since civil war ended

November 26, 2017 3:12 pm

Millions of Nepalese have braved cold weather to vote in the country’s first general election since a civil war ended and the monarchy was abolished.

Voters from remote villages in the Himalayas had to walk for hours in the snow to reach their polling stations.

They were choosing a 275-member parliament and provincial assemblies. Turnout was more than 65%.

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The centrist Nepali Congress Party is taking on an alliance of former Maoist rebels and the Communist UML party.

The country is voting in two phases, with the second phase to be held on 7 December. Results are expected a few days after that.

More than 15 million people are eligible to vote.