Nepal king issues peace call

By Sushil Sharma
BBC correspondent in Kathmandu

Nepalese King Gyanendra has urged mainstream political parties to co-operate in peace efforts aimed at ending years of war with Maoist rebels.

Gyanendra upset Nepal's politicians when he dismissed the government

He said the establishment of peace should be at the top of everyone's agenda.

His comments coincided with the formal launch of joint protests by major opposition parties who are at loggerheads with the king over his assumption of executive powers last year.

Peace efforts began in January, when the government and the Maoist rebels announced a ceasefire.

The two sides are due to hold a second round of peace talks on Friday, two weeks after they first met.

The parties have backed the peace moves, but there have been persistent concerns at the damage fall-out from their confrontation with the king could have on the peace process.

'Unconstitutional'

Maoists say they are committed to peace

In separate meetings with leading newspaper editors, King Gyanendra said that he had no intention of becoming an executive monarch.

He was quoted as saying that executive powers had been returned to the government, which he installed a week after dismissing the elected prime minister last year for not holding elections on schedule.

The king said that he had acted within the constitution, although major parties said the royal move was unconstitutional.

They fear the return of an executive monarchy that existed for 30 years until a pro-democracy movement in 1990.

But King Gyanendra said that he remained committed to a constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy.

Concern

The parties, which had members in the dissolved parliament, have threatened to step up protests unless the king reinstates parliament or constitutes an all-party government comprising their nominees.

The first phase of the agitation begins on Thursday.

Newspapers quoted King Gyanendra as expressing concern at the attitude of the parties.

He said that the need of the hour was to work collectively for the success of peace talks.

They come after seven years of insurgency which have left 7,000 people dead and shattered the kingdom's economy.