Nepal faces political crisis

The Nepalese Prime Minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa, has advised King Birendra to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections.

The move comes on the same day that ninety-six opposition MPs asked King Birendra for a special session of parliament to debate a no-confidence motion against the government of Mr Thapa.

He heads a three party coalition which came to power three months ago.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service