Ppposition leaders in Nepal have rejected a statement by King Gyanandra which said the nation would return to being a multi-party democracy in the near future. The reason: King Gyanandra did not call for the creation of a special assembly to write a new constitution for the country as demanded by the protestors.
The king made his announcement shortly after more than 100,000 people defied a government curfew to protest just outside the capital of Katmandu Friday morning.
In his speech, Gyanandra said he had an 'unflinching commitment toward constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy' and called on the nation's seven political parties to quickly name a prime minister. 'Executive power ... shall, from this day, be returned to the people,' he said.
The king seized power in February 2005 to quash a Maoist rebellion. The fight with the Maoist insurgents had been going on for more than a decade and had taken the lives of approximately 13,000 people.
In the last two weeks, 14 people have died since troops have tried to enforce the curfew and break up anti-government protests. The latest came Friday when a protester shot by police on Thursday died of his wounds.
U.S. Ambassador James Moriarty bluntly warned the king could be forced from power within days unless he made major concessions.
'His time is running out,' Moriarty told reporters hours before the king's speech. 'Ultimately the king will have to leave if he doesn't compromise. And by 'ultimately' I mean sooner rather than later.'
The stance of the Maoists remains unknown. Many fear their use of violence makes them a dangerous wild card in this process.
