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Nepal's king gives up absolute power
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Nepal's king has vowed to return power to the people of this Himalayan kingdom after weeks of massive protests and mounting international pressure.
King Gyanendra said Friday his dynasty had "unflinching commitment toward constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy" and he called on the seven main political parties to name a prime minister as soon as possible.
"Executive power ... shall, from this day, be returned to the people," he said in the announcement that was broadcast on state television and radio.
While the king appeared to be giving up most -- and perhaps all -- of his power, it remained unclear if his announcement would mollify his political opponents who launched a general strike on April 6 and drew tens of thousands to the streets daily.
Political leaders were in meetings after his announcement and could not be reached for comment.
More
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/21/nepal.ap/index.html
"Executive power ... shall, from this day, be returned to the people," he said in the announcement that was broadcast on state television and radio.
While the king appeared to be giving up most -- and perhaps all -- of his power, it remained unclear if his announcement would mollify his political opponents who launched a general strike on April 6 and drew tens of thousands to the streets daily.
Political leaders were in meetings after his announcement and could not be reached for comment.
More
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/21/nepal.ap/index.html
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Just hours earlier, more than 100,000 pro-democracy protesters defied a government curfew despite shoot-on-sight orders and filled the streets on the outskirts of Katmandu, Nepal's capital.
As the tension grew, so did the international pressure on Gyanendra, who seized power in February 2005, saying he needed to crush the Maoist insurgency that has killed nearly 13,000 people in a decade.
The U.S. ambassador warned the king's regime could be nearing collapse.
"His time is running out," U.S. Ambassador James Moriarty told reporters earlier Friday. "Ultimately the king will have to leave if he doesn't compromise. And by 'ultimately' I mean sooner rather than later."
Nepal's crisis has escalated steadily since the opposition launched a general strike and protesters began hitting the streets daily, leaving the Himalayan country paralyzed.
More
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1871031
In a televised address, he said he would return power to the people, but gave no date for elections to be held.
Opposition parties said they would meet to discuss the offer before responding.
King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed direct powers in 2005, ostensibly to quell a long-running insurgency by Maoist rebels.
His apparent climb-down came on the 16th day of protests against his direct rule.
Looking tense during his address on Friday, the beleaguered monarch said the government would revert to being in accordance with the constitution of 1990.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4931000.stm
For More On Protests See:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2006/04/1816797.php