Nepal parties call anti-king strike in April

KATHMANDU, Mar 19 (Reuters) Nepal's main political parties have called a four-day nationwide general strike next month, saying today they would step up protests to force King Gyanendra to give up absolute power.

The strike would begin on April 6, they said, and urged people to support and participate in an anti-king rally in Kathmandu on April 8, the day multi-party democracy was established in the Himalayan nation 16 years ago.

The Maoist rebels, fighting since 1996 to topple the monarchy, backed the strike call and asked people to take active part in the protests.

''We know the general strike will cause hardship to the people.

But we urge them to bear with us and face four days of difficulties for the greater cause of democracy,'' Subash Nemwang, a top leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-UML, the second biggest party, told reporters after a meeting.

The parties, which have entered into a loose alliance with the Maoist rebels against the king, also urged the guerrillas to call off a six-day nationwide road blockade.

The blockade has disrupted supplies, caused prices of essential goods to soar and led to fuel shortages in some areas.

The royalist government has criticised the alliance but the parties stood firm and said the pact was aimed at getting the Maoists to return to the mainstream.

''It (the accord) is the real basis for the resolution of the current conflict,'' they said in a statement.

A statement from Maoist chief Prachanda (one name) made no reference to the call by the parties to end the road blockade or to a nationwide strike the rebels themselves have announced from April 3.

But Prachanda reaffirmed his commitment to the alliance saying there was ''an understanding that a popular movement is the only alternative to achieve the goal'' of democracy.

Plans for the fresh protests came as the national capital Kathmandu, district capitals and other major towns were besieged by the blockade for a sixth day today.

Residents said hundreds of cars and motorcycles lined up at petrol stations in the western resort town of Pokhara as the blockade choked supplies and authorities began rationing fuel.

The blockade has left highways virtually empty since Tuesday as drivers stayed off roads fearing attacks by the rebels.

But there was no panic in Kathmandu, where authorities said they had petrol enough for more than another one week, and other towns.

Traffic remained thin on major roads today as vehicles stayed away, stranding thousands. Many people reportedly walked for several days to reach their destinations.

Nepal has faced political turmoil since the king took power last year, saying his move was necessary to quell the 10-year Maoist revolt which has killed more than 13,000 people.

REUTERS DKS PM1652