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India, US push Nepal to restore democracy

Kathmandu justifies emergency to UN

AFP, New Delhi/ Geneva
India and the United States called jointly yesterday for a return to multiparty democracy in Nepal, saying the seizure of power in the Himalayan outpost by King Gyanendra was a "setback" for the region.
The call was made at a joint press conference between Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after they had held talks in the Indian capital, where Rice kicked off a six-nation tour of Asia.
"We discussed important regional and global questions. We approached these issues (on the basis of) our common commitment to democracy, pluralism and prosperity," Singh said.
"On Nepal we agreed that recent events have been a setback to these goals. Democratic freedoms must be restored and reconciliation with political parties must lead to a return to a multi-party democracy in Nepal," he added.
Gyanendra dismissed a four-party coalition government on February 1 and seized control of Nepal, imposing emergency rule and vowing to tackle an increasingly bloody Maoist revolt that has claimed 11,000 lives since 1996.
The power grab has been widely
condemned internationally, with India and Britain freezing military aid needed by Nepal's badly-equipped army to fight the Maoists while Washington has threatened to follow suit unless the king restores basic freedoms.
"There needs to be a return to democracy in Nepal," Rice said in an interview with Indian television station NDTV.
At the joint press conference with Singh she said India and the US shared "regional responsibilities but also increasingly global responsibilities".
"We had a chance to talk about Afghanistan, about Iraq and specially about the challenge to democracy in Nepal where we had outstanding cooperation between our ambassadors to try and help that country to get back on the democratic path ... that simply must happen and we are in complete agreement that it needs to happen very, very soon,"she said.
Meanwhile, Nepal told the UN human rights commission Tuesday the state of emergency it declared six weeks ago was temporary and being slowly relaxed just a day after 500 anti-monarchy protestors were rounded up there.
Nepalese foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey asked the human rights commission for understanding and for support from the international community saying his
country was still committed to human rights.
King Gyanendra of Nepal took control of the country by firing the government on February 1 and declaring a state of emergency in an effort to stifle Maoist rebels, who have battled since 1996 to topple the monarchy in a struggle that has claimed 11,000 lives.
"The larger threat of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights should not escape from your attention," Pandey explained.
"The effective implementation of our commitments depends on our ability to effectively put down the insurgency and restore peace and security in the country."
"Nepal has consistently called for and is committed to the negotiated solution to the insurgency based on patriotism and multiparty democracy, but the rebels have refused to come to the negotiating table," he added
Several political parties are engaged in a programme of demonstrations against King Gyanendra's seizure of power.
Of those arrested Monday 15 will be held for three months under the Public Security Act. Among those detained are leaders, lawmakers and activists of the five political parties who organised the protest, a police official said Tuesday.