- REUTERS
A pro-democracy activist reacts in front of a fire after dozens destroyed and burned a police booth in the Kalanki district of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, yesterday. Tens of thousands in Kathmandu defied a government curfew by taking to the streets in protest against King Gyanendra.KATHMANDU (Reuters):
NEPAL'S KING Gyanendra said yesterday after weeks of violent anti-monarchy protests he would restore political power to the people, but the largest party said he had not gone far enough and vowed more demonstrations.
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.
King Gyanendra sought to ease the crisis on Friday, announcing in a national address in the Nepali language that he would give the alliance the power to name a prime minister.
"Executive power of the kingdom of Nepal, which was in our safekeeping, shall from this day be returned to the people," said the king, looking serious and dressed in a Nepali cap and black jacket.
"We ask the seven-party alliance to recommend the name for the post of prime minister at the earliest for the constitution of a council of ministers, which will bear the responsibility of governing the country in accordance with the constitution."
CONSTITUTION CHANGE RULED OUT
The king appeared to rule out any change of the constitution to curb his own powers, which has been a primary demand of the political parties. They have said elections to a constituent assembly, which would make such changes, was critical.
Krishna Prasad Sitaula, a spokesman for the Nepali Congress, a key constituent of the alliance, said the king had not "addressed the road map of the protest movement."
"Our protest campaign will continue," he said.
The parties were to give a joint response later, possibly today.
