President Jiang Zemin yesterday expressed his profound regret and grief at the deaths of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya of Nepal.

Jiang said in a statement that he was deeply shocked by the tragic incident, which occurred in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on Friday evening, and extended his deep condolences to the Napalese people.

"His death is an immense loss to the Nepalese people and he will forever live on in their hearts," Jiang said.

"King Birendra made outstanding contributions to China-Nepal friendship, which will last from generation to generation. The Chinese people will remember him forever."

Also yesterday, Premier Zhu Rongji sent a message of condolences to his Nepalese counterpart, Girija Prasad Koirala, to express his "profound condolences and deep sympathy" over the deaths of the king and queen.

Other foreign leaders, including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and US President George W. Bush, also sent their condolences to the people of Nepal.

King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, together with six other members of the royal family, were reportedly shot dead at the Narayan Hity Royal Palace in Kathmandu.

Initial reports said the shooting was carried out by Crown Prince Dipendra, who then shot himself. But Nepal's caretaker king, Prince Gyanendra, said yesterday that the massacre of eight members of the royal family was due to an "accidental" shooting, contradicting reports that the crown prince killed his relatives in a dispute over his wedding plans.

The 29-year-old crown prince remains in a critical condition in hospital and his uncle, Prince Gyanendra, has currently taking over the role of caretaker king.

Prince Gyanendra referred to the tragedy as "an unanticipated incident." Government officials were unavailable for comment yesterday and a 13-day period of mourning has been declared. All further statements will be issued through the official news agency.

Prime Minister Girija Prasada Koirala said on Saturday that the government would investigate the killings.

"I want to assure the people that the truth and facts of this incident will be made public," he said.

Koirala visited Dipendra and three other injured royal family members in the military hospital on Sunday.

"The condition of King Dipendra is extremely critical," the prime minister told state-run radio. The report did not say whether Dipendra was still on a life support machine, as reported on Saturday.

Many ordinary Nepalis refuse to believe the crown prince slaughtered the royal family, reportedly because his mother disapproved of his choice for a bride.

Yet many said yesterday they found it difficult to accept the seriously wounded crown prince as their king.

"Even though we have a king, we don't," said Mohan Thapa, a businessman. "We are not even sure if he's dead or alive. With all these rumours of him having killed King Birendra, it is hard to accept Dipendra as the new king."

The varying explanations were worrisome to some.

"We believe and we're almost sure that the truth will never come out with the conflicting reports," said Krishna Pant.

Reflecting the grim mood in Nepal, Pant said: "We have almost been orphaned. A king is our protector, but now we are left to fend for ourselves. If the king could not be safe, how can we be safe in a situation like this?"

Gyanendra's statement, issued by the government news agency, seemed only to confuse things.

"According to the information we have, the incident happened by an accidental firing of an automatic weapon, seriously injuring the king, the queen, the crown prince and members of the royal family," the caretaker king said.

"They were rushed to the hospital, where, despite the efforts of the doctors, his majesty the king passed away," he said.

Gyanendra said yesterday that as of Friday night, when the shooting occurred, "Dipendra has been declared his majesty the king of the kingdom of Nepal."

However, the State Council on Saturday named Prince Gyanendra as caretaker king, or regent, as the crown prince was unable to fulfil his duties as king.

During a royal funeral procession at sunset Saturday, hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets, wailed, clasped their hands in respect and offered flowers as the bodies were taken for cremation according to Hindu rites.

"We have, in short, lost a visionary monarch who ably guided his nation through thick and thin," The Katmandu Post said in a Page-one editorial. "It will no doubt be difficult to replace such a leader who had won the people's heart and symbolized Nepal's move toward a modern era."

The independent newspaper reported that "sources close to the palace" said the crown prince had fired on his family with an automatic weapon.

Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel, who was widely quoted as saying the crown prince was the gunman, backed off later on Saturday.

"I never said that the crown prince did it," Paudel said.

The royal family had gathered on Friday night for dinner to discuss the wedding of Crown Prince Dipendra. Sources close to the family said that the prince wished to marry the daughter of a former government minister who is a member of the aristocratic Rana family, which ruled Nepal until 1951.

South Asian diplomats have postponed a key meeting later this month after the killing of King Birendra and other members of the royal family, the Sri Lanka foreign ministry said yesterday.

Agencies via Xinhua