Kathmandu, Apr 10: Praying it will bring their country lasting peace after a decade of war and insurgency, Nepalis queued from dawn on Thursday to cast their vote in a historic election, the country's first in nine years.

Around 135,000 police, many of them armed, guarded polling stations in the hills and plains, as Nepalis chose a 601-member assembly that is supposed to write a new constitution, abolish a 240-year-old Hindu monarchy and serve as a parliament for at least two years.

The vote is the centrepiece of a 2006 peace deal with Maoist guerrillas to end a decade-long civil war, and marks the transformation of the rebels into a legitimate political party.

Peace was the first word on almost every voter's lips. Many said they were enthusiastic to finally get a chance to vote.

"I couldn't sleep the whole night because I am worried about peace," said 48-year-old farmer Sudarshan Neupane, who said he had started queueing three hours before polls opened at a school in a northern suburb of Kathmandu.

"I hope this election will bring lasting peace," he said.

Many in the crowd of around 1,000 people applauded as Neupane entered the polling booth, the first to cast a vote there.

Violence and intimidation marred the campaign, with Maoists in particular, accused of threatening voters and rival party workers. At least 12 people were killed in election-related violence in the run-up to the poll, including two candidates.

Local media said polling was suspended in a few remote polling centres after Maoists tried to snatch ballot papers and intimidate poll officials. But the Election Commission said turnout was high and the vote was mostly going smoothly.

On election eve, the country's ailing 83-year-old Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said it would herald a "new era" for his nation, one of the world's poorest.

"I feel great, because this is my first experience," said 19-year-old science student Rachana Maharjan, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a red tikka on her forehead and yellow petals in her hair. "I don't think there will be immediate and drastic change, but I want to be positive."

But others were a little more doubtful.

"We all want peace but we don't know whether our hopes will turn to frustration," said 45-year-old housewife Sudha Rajuwar, dressed in a red saree. "How long should people wait for peace, and suffer?"

Businesses, which face widespread extortion from Maoists and other rebel groups, frequent strikes and regular power cuts, are also hoping that an elusive peace dividend finally arrives.

But Nepal is unlikely to change overnight, and first has to get through a very tricky election. The violence could provide a pretext for any number of parties to reject the results.

Maoists insist they will respect the "verdict of the masses", but a poor performance could prompt hardliners to split from the party and take to the streets.

Armed groups in southern plains bordering India have called for a boycott of the polls, saying they do not believe a promise of regional autonomy after the elections, and activists waved black flags and tried to turn voters away in the town of Janakpur.

Most people ignored them, hundreds praying in an ancient Hindu temple after casting their ballots.

The nature of the election -- part first past the post, part proportional representation -- complicates matters further, with full results likely to take more than 10 days.

"The post-poll period will likely be difficult and dangerous," the International Crisis Group said in a report.

"Parties will trade allegations of fraud and violence. The behaviour of powerful losers will shape the immediate aftermath."

One of the biggest losers is King Gyanendra, who ascended the throne after his elder brother and eight other royals were shot in 2001 by the crown prince, who then turned the gun on himself.

Gyanendra went on to seize absolute power, but was forced to retreat two years ago after street protests. Nepal's main parties promise the new assembly will start by abolishing the monarchy.

Everyone agrees that Nepal desperately needs change, but hopes were tempered with some cynicism, given the failure of previous governments to deliver.

"I need my right to live in peace," said Kanchha Rokka, a 39-year-old cobbler, voting in Kirtipur on the outskirts of the capital, among wheat fields and beneath a steep jungle-clad hill.

"We want development and young people need jobs. The country is getting poor and leaders are getting fat."