Five ministers resign from government of Nepal in political crisis

The resignations of five ministers from the Nepali coalition government have been accepted by King Birendra.

A statement from the royal palace broadcast by state radio said the ministers all belonged to the party of the Prime Minister, Surya Bahdaur Thapa.

The resignations come a day after the communist opposition asked the King to call a special session of parliament to debate a no-confidence motion against the three-month old government; the Prime Minister recommended the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service