White House calls for dialogue for democracy in Nepal

Washington, Apr 19: The United States has said democracy and dialogue are the only effective ways to deal with the insurgency in Nepal.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, White House press secretary Scott McClellan warned that the unrest in the country ''will only worsen'' unless king Gyanendra takes immediate action and added ''arrests and violence accompanying the pro-democracy demonstrations only add to the insecurity and compound the serious problem facing Nepal.'' The demonstrations and general strikes in the Himalayan kingdom in support of a return of the democratic governament have entered their 13th day, and the media have reported the killing of five protesters by the Nepalese security forces.

King Gyanendra seized absolute power of mountainous nation in February 2005, arguing that he needed direct powers to defeat a 10-year insurgency by Maoist rebels.

Mr McClellan said the king's call for dialogue with the country's constitutional political parties ''is an acknowledgement of the path that must be taken to overcome the current crisis, but we don't believe it goes far enough.'' ''The king must immediately restore democracy and take steps to engage Nepal's constitutional political parties,'' he said.

UNI