Election date fails to break deadlock in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Sunday (AFP) - Nepal's political parties are insisting King Gyanendra restores democratic rule suspended for nine months and holds talks before they will agree to take part in elections scheduled for early 2007.

Gyanendra announced the parliamentary elections last Wednesday during a key religious festival in the world's only Hindu kingdom after a month of street protests by the parties over his decision to sack the government in February and seize absolute power.

But political parties have rejected the unilateral announcement, seen as an attempt to deflect international pressure to restore democracy and blunt a unilateral three-month ceasefire by Maoist rebels in early September. And some doubt that the king intends to return democracy to his people.

"The seven-party alliance will not participate in any kind of election, whether it's municipal or parliamentary, unless the king is sincere about resolving the crisis," acting president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Gopal Man Shrestha said.

"We will not take part in the elections if the king does not return the people's sovereign and executive rights to them. He must restore democracy and parliament and withdraw the curb on freedom of press," Shrestha said.

The Congress leads an alliance of seven major parties that have been demanding the restoration of democracy.