Nepal King bows to pressure: returns sovereignty to people

Kathmandu, Apr 21 (UNI) Buckling under pressure from pro-democracy protestors, Nepal King Gyanendra today announced return of sovereignty to the people, asking the seven political parties to recommend the name of prime minister.

Leaders of the seven parties rejected the offer of King Gyanendra to recommend the name of Prime Minister saying that he has not addressed the minimum demands of the alliance.

''The seven parties agenda has not been addressed by the king, and there is nothing new in the king's statement,'' vice president of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala told the BBC Nepali service.

The movement will end abolishing the autocratic monarchy, he said.

This is the conspiracy of the King to split the parties, he said.

India welcomed the King's ''intention'' to transfer all executive power to the seven-party alliance saying the action should now pave way for restoration of political stability and economic recovery in the country.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said India hoped that the aspirations of the people of Nepal could now be addressed by enabling them to enjoy their rights through a democratic electoral exercise free from threat of violence.

Indian Ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee today ... picking up from para five, line one of DF22, EXTERNAL-NIGHT LEAD NEPAL.

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