Nepal's king appeals for unity

King Gyanendra highlighted Nepal's 'vulnerability'

Nepal's King Gyanendra has marked Democracy Day with an appeal for national unity and accountability in the face of an escalating crisis involving Maoist rebels.

Sensitizing ourselves to this anguish of the people, let us be more accountable toward them in consolidating democracy

King Gyanendra

The king's message expressed deep concern about the Himalayan kingdom's well-being and future.

It came days after Maoist rebels launched the most devastating attacks yet in their six-year fight to establish a communist republic.

More than 140 soldiers, police officers and civilian officials were killed in the two weekend attacks in the western district of Achham.

King Gyanendra, who took to the throne last year after a bloody palace massacre of most of the royal family, said Nepal was going through a "vulnerable stage".

Nepal's Defence Secretary PK Acharya told Reuters news agency, "We have deployed a massive number of troops", but refused to give figures.

Strengthening democracy

National Democracy Day marks the anniversary of the 1951 revolution led by the Nepali Congress Party which overthrew the hundred-year-old Rana regime and set up a limited constitutional monarchy.

The royal message expressed deep concern for Nepal's future

But the king said democracy in Nepal needed to be strengthened further, acknowledging the incomplete nature of popular representation.

"Apprehensions are being raised from all quarters about the maintenance of peace and security, good governance and political stability," he said.

"Sensitizing ourselves to this anguish of the people, let us be more accountable toward them in consolidating democracy," he added.

Successive governments in recent years have been accused of failing to deliver on promises to stamp out corruption and improve the standard of living of the majority of Nepalis who live in poverty.

The Maoists have rejected the present system of multiparty parliamentary democracy combined with constitutional monarchy.

State of emergency

The government has ordered security forces to redouble their efforts to crush the country's Maoist rebels.

But Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba faced stormy scenes in parliament on Monday, as angry deputies demanded an explanation from the government of how the attacks could have happened.

Parliament is due to vote on Thursday on whether or not to extend a state of emergency imposed in November in an attempt to crack down on the rebels.

But violence appears to have increased since then.

The opposition now says the military offensive launched following the declaration of the state of emergency has not been effective enough.

The state of emergency was declared after another bout of attacks which caused heavy loss of life.

Those attacks followed the withdrawal of the Maoists from peace talks with the government.

The army says it has killed almost 500 rebels and arrested another 1,400 since the imposition of the state of emergency.

Government officials say over 300 officers and soldiers too have lost their lives in the campaign.

With the rebels still able to strike back hard, the effectiveness of the military option may well be questioned now.