The Royal Nepalese Army, facing criticism by political parties for suppressing the democratic movement in the country and serving the interests of the palace, would soon be transformed into a national army, according to a senior leader of Nepal, media reports said in Kathmandu Monday.

"The Royal Nepal Army has always served the interests of the palace, but the parties will bring them under civilian authority as a national army. We have already taken initiatives in this regard," The Kathmandu Post, a leading English daily, quoted leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-UML Bam Dev Gautam as saying.

Gautam condemned the RNA for the killing of 11 innocent civilians in Bhaktapur and said, "Royal Nepal Army would continue committing such heinous crimes as long as it is under the authority of an individual. The RNA has never worked for the people. It supported late king Mahendra while staging a royal coup in 1960 and it did the same in 2005," he said.

The CPN-UML leader said, "People's government, to be formed after the movement, would not spare those responsible for the Nagarkot massacre. The government is trying to obscure the issue by immediately announcing compensation. But the RNA's misdeeds of raping women and killing innocent citizens must be exposed. The 12-point agreement between seven political parties and the Maoists has already made it clear that the nation has moved towards a republican state," Gautam said.

The UML has already decided to go for a democratic republic, the Maoists are pushing for a republic and the Nepali Congress is on the borderline between republic and ceremonial monarchy, he added.

"And you should understand that the issue of eliminating autocratic monarchy in the 12-point agreement in fact means establishing a republic," he said.

Party leaders, civil society and general public have also started to advocate to bring the Royal Nepalese Army under the Parliament and make it national army specially after the royal coup of February 1, 2005.