Bhutan's king abdicates early

Bhutan'S King Jigme Singye Wangchuck has abdicated to make way for his 26-year-old son to become monarch of the tiny Himalayan nation, the king said in a statement obtained yesterday.

The monarch, who has ruled the tiny country of 700,000 for more than three decades, announced last year that he would step down in 2008 and hand over to his eldest son, Crown Prince Jigme Kesar Namgyel.

But in a statement made to Bhutan's council of ministers on Thursday, the king, 50, said he was stepping down earlier.

"The Crown Prince has much to learn about the responsibilities that go with ruling the country," the king said in the statement released to the media yesterday.

"I have decided to step down so that the new king will be able to gather experience before the parliamentary elections in 2008."

Wangchuck is the fourth king of the tiny nation and ascended to the throne in 1972 at 16 years of age, after the death of his father.

His rule has been based on what the king calls "National Gross Happiness" and policies have been directed at preserving the culture and environment of the nation.