Bush remarks are slap on King's regime: Political leaders

Kathmandu, Mar 4 (UNI) Leaders of the major political parties in Nepal have welcomed US President George W Bush's call to King Gyanendra to restore democracy in the Himalayan kingdom.

Leaders of the mainstream political parties said Mr Bush's call to restore democracy in the Himalyan kingdom was a ''slap to the autocratic regime''.

President Bush, during the joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi this week, had urged the Maoists to shun violence and the king to resotre democracy and reach out to the political parties.

''Bush's call for restoration of democracy is a slap on the face of the present regime that describes the present autocracy as democracy,'' The Kathmandu Post quoted joint general secretary of the Nepali Congress Ram Sharan Mahat as saying.

''To ask for restoring democracy means there is no democracy in Nepal,'' he said.

''The issue raised by the President of the world's superpower is serious and significant. So, both sides must understand the gravity of the situation,'' said Dr Narayan Khadka, leader of the Nepali Congress (Democratic).

''It is the king who should reach out to the parties. We won't go to the king demanding dialogue,'' leader of the CPN-UML Bhim Rawal said.

''Bush's statement is also on the same lines,'' he added.

India, the US, the UK, Japan and other countries have repeatedly stressed the need for restoration of democracy in the Himalayan kingdom since the takeover of the administration by the king in the State last year.

UNI XC VJ BS1714