Initially, Nepalese officials said then-Crown Prince Dipendra shot his parents and the others during a dispute and turned the gun on himself. Nepal's new king, Gyanendra, ordered an investigation after saying the shooting was an accident. A new 12-hour curfew has been imposed in Kathmandu, to prevent further violent protests over last week's killings. A government statement said the curfew was imposed after some people tried to block traffic and cause disturbances in the city. Protesters say they don't believe that the popular heir to the throne would kill his family.
Protesters accuse the new king of involvement in the massacre.
The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for Nepal, urging Americans to postpone trips there. It also advised Americans now in Katmandu to stay indoors and monitor the situation before going outdoors. Meanwhile at the United Nations in New York, flags of member states were flown at half-staff Tuesday in memory of the late King Birendra and his family. A U.N. spokesman says Secretary General Kofi Annan visited the Nepali Mission to the United Nations to sign a condolence book. Email this article to a friend.