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The mystery behind the identity of the perpetrator of the massacre of Nepal's royal family deepened after Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel on Sunday withdrew his statement that crown prince Dipendra had shot dead the royal family.
"I never said that the crown prince did it," Paudel said.
Paudel's statement - to the effect that Dipendra had killed the family members - was widely quoted.
Statements by newly-appointed regent Prince Gyanendra and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Sunday that the massacre was an 'accident' only added to the mystery.
Meanwhile, the condition of Prince Dipendra, declared as the new king, remained 'critical'.
On Sunday, in the first official statement on the incident, Prince Gyanendra said King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and six others of the royal family were killed in an automatic weapon fire and described the tragedy as an 'accident'.
"The incident took place after an automatic weapon suddenly exploded," Prince Gyanendra said in a statement broadcast over state-run TV and radio.
The regent said that 'as his majesty the king (Dipendra) is under intensive medical treatment and unable to perform his duties, the nation's responsibilities have come upon our shoulders'.
"I believe I will receive full support and cooperation from the Nepalese people," he added.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala also issued a statement on Sunday blaming 'accidental firing of an automatic weapon' for the royal massacre on Friday night.
Koirala went on to say that the incident occurred after an accidental firing of an automatic weapon seriously injured the king, the queen, the crown prince and members of the royal family.
"They were rushed to the hospital, where, despite the efforts of the doctors, his majesty, the king passed away," Koirala said.
The statement by the regent and the prime minister were silent on the identity of the person who reportedly fired upon the royal family during the family dinner.
Meanwhile, the condition of the crown prince remained 'critical' at the Birendra Army hospital where doctors were trying to save his life. He was in coma and had been put on a ventilator and other life support systems.
Official sources, on condition of anonymity, maintained that 29-year-old Dipendra had received bullet wounds in his back.
The Himalayan kingdom, including the capital, remained by and large peaceful except for sporadic incidents of violence.
Flags flew at half mast as part of the 13-day state mourning. The entire state machinery has been shut down for five days.
Meanwhile, official news agency RSS said the ashes of the king, queen and other royals would be immersed in the river Ganga. However, it did not give details as to when it would take place.
As confusion prevailed in the city, people looked for open shops to stock essential commodities and traffic was low on city roads.
PTI
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