Situation still ''critical'' in Nepal: Karan Singh

New Delhi, Apr 22: A day after Nepal's King Gyanendra vowed to restore political power to the people after weeks of violent anti-monarchy protests, special envoy Karan Singh said the situation is still ''critical'' in the Himalayan Kingdom and called on the seven-party alliance to immediately form the government to save the country from plunging into deeper crisis.

''The King's move is welcome and a significant step. The seven- party alliance must immediately form a government to save the country from plunging into further crisis,'' Dr Singh said here.

Dr Singh, who went to Kathmamdu as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy and met the King, said all the groups might not agree with the King's move but it was the first step towards restoring peace in the country.

''If the seven-party alliance does not respond, the country will face even deeper and bigger crisis... The situation will only improve once a government is in place,'' he added.

He said Government formation is the first step towards restoration of peace in the Himalayan Kingdom.

About the Maoists, he said talks with that group will be held by the Government and not the King.

''The King is not expected to talk to them and neither are the insurgents going to hold discussions with him.... Once the government takes over power it will hold talks with them and probably a ceasefire will be declared,'' he explained.

Dr Singh said Nepal's political, economic and social setup needs to be reconstructed and that is possible only when a government is in place.

Asked if the King had made the move under pressure from New Delhi, Dr Singh said,''India does not pressure anybody it only makes suggestions.'' King Gyanendra yesterday asked the seven political parties to recommend the name for the prime minister's post.

Leaders of the seven parties rejected the offer, saying the King has not addressed the minimum demands of the alliance.

At least 12 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in police action against protesters since a seven-party alliance launched a campaign on April 6 to demand restoration of multi-party democracy.

Nepali Congress Vice President Sushil Koirala said,'' The seven parties' agenda has not been addressed by the King and there is nothing new in his statement. The movement will end only when the autocratic monarchy is abolished, he said. ''This is the conspiracy of the King to split the parties,'' he added.

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.

The King sacked the government and took full powers in February 2005, vowing to crush a decade-old Maoist revolt in which more than 13,000 people have died.

Maoist rebels have insisted on a new constitution prepared by a constituent assembly as a precondition to joining the mainstream.

King Gyanendra, who came to the throne after the 2001 palace massacre when his elder brother, Birendra, was killed by his own son, the Crown Prince Dipendra, has been under tremendous international pressure to restore democracy.

UNI

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