Nepal rebels urge anti-king move

The rebels are asking political parties to revolt against King Gyanendra

A rebel leader has called on Nepal's political parties to join the rebels to form an anti-monarchy alliance and reject the royal-appointed government.

The Maoist communist party chairman said that the rebels were ready for a multi-party system in the country.

Nepal's King Gyanendra sacked the elected government and suspended national elections last year amid a rebel struggle to abolish the monarchy.

Most political parties are opposed to the king's executive powers.

The Chairman of the underground Maoist Communist Party (MCP), Prachanda, said the present political system in Nepal needed to be overthrown.

Wooing political parties

The rebels are known to be fighting to replace the monarchy with a communist republic.

Analysts say Mr Prachanda's statement appears to be aiming to woo the parties who are expected to step up their agitation against the king soon.

However, the parties have been critical of the Maoist rebels who have killed hundreds of their activists over the years.

The Nepalese political parties have also been defending the present constitution which the rebels want scrapped.

Peace talks between the government and the rebels have failed twice over the past two years due to differences over a key rebel demand for a new constitution.

More than 8000 people have been killed in Nepal since the rebels began an insurrection in 1996.