Oppn steps up pressure on Nepal king

Stepping up pressure on King Gyanendra, the seven-party alliance today vowed to continue its movement for restoration of democracy, with one of the parties even talking of forming a parallel government.

Thousands of pro-democracy activists clashed with security forces in various parts of Nepal, leaving 30 people injured. In the Capital, thousands defied the day curfew and marched towards the city centre, clashing with security forces.

Having rejected the king's offer for transferring executive power to the people along with early elections, the parties stuck to their demand for reinstatement of Parliament which was dissolved last year and holding of elections to the Constituent Assembly according to their roadmap for the restoration of full democracy in the kingdom.

"Our movement will continue," Nepali Congress General Secretary Ramchandra Poudel said.

Nepal Communist Party-UML's senior Politburo member Jhalanath Khanal warned the parties may opt for reinstating Parliament on their own and form a parallel government if the king did not listen to their demands.