Thousands of people in Nepal surrounded the gates of the country's revived parliament today to keep up pressure for a new constitution after weeks of street protests.
But with 84-year-old prime minister-designate Girija Prasad Koirala too sick to attend his swearing-in ceremony in the morning, the legislature is unlikely to take any major decisions to immediately satisfy the crowd, politicians said.
"Parliament will sit, but it will only be a formal sitting," said a spokesman for Koirala's Nepali Congress party, the country's largest.
Monks in maroon robes and women in traditional dress were among thousands of people gathered outside the gates of parliament, which was due to hold its first session in four years.
They were demanding elections be called for a special assembly to write a new constitution and review the role of the monarchy - or even abolish it.
Others held up banners parroting the demands of Maoist rebels who control vast swathes of the country and lent their backing to the often bloody pro-democracy and anti-monarchy protests.
But life has largely returned to normal in Nepal since the country's mainstream political parties called off their campaign. That followed King Gyanendra's announcement on Monday evening that he was reviving parliament and surrendering power to the parties who led the protests.