Nepal's king vows democracy, rebels kill 19 in raid

KATHMANDU, Wednesday (Reuters) A year after he seized power, Nepal's King Gyanendra vowed on Wednesday to hold national elections by 2007, as Maoist rebels attacked a western town and killed at least 19 soldiers and police.

The army said dozens of soldiers and government officials, including the district administrator, were missing after the overnight raid on the western town of Palpa, which targeted army barracks, police posts and government buildings.

Hours after the attack, Gyanendra, who sacked the government and seized power on Feb. 1 last year promising to bring peace and prosperity, reiterated his call to communist guerrillas to shun violence and join the mainstream.

"Representative bodies at all levels will be activated by April next year," a grim-looking king said in a televised address to the nation, as political parties planned nationwide protests on the anniversary of the palace power grab.

"Let us unite to establish a meaningful democracy by burying bitter differences of the past," he said, speaking in Nepali. "All Nepalis want lasting peace and ... this is possible only through peaceful and constructive efforts." Maoist guerrillas fighting to topple the monarchy and establish a single-party communist republic attacked Palpa late on Tuesday and fighting continued through the night.

"Sixteen policemen, besides the three soldiers, have also been killed," the officer told Reuters. The army had said earlier three soldiers had been killed and one wounded.

Soldiers were said to be searching for rebel fighters and bodies.

The independent Kantipur radio station said prisoners from a nearby jail had been freed by the guerrillas. Communication links to the region were cut off.

The monarch, who wore a black formal jacket and a traditional Nepali cap during his 20-minute speech, did not directly refer to a campaign for democracy by political parties or mention any possibility of negotiating with them.

Although he said rebel violence had fallen and was limited to scattered incidents under his rule, official figures this week showed more people had been killed in 2005 than the average annual number of fatalities in previous years.

Nepal's seven mainstream political parties, citizens' groups and professional organisations have planned nationwide rallies to mark Wednesday as "black day".

Political parties plan to hoist black flags and burn effigies and there are fears of violence if activists try to defy a ban on rallies in the heart of Kathmandu.

In the capital, residents reported 20 armoured personnel carriers patrolling the capital, the first time such a large number had been seen in the city. Hundreds of activists were detained across the country before the anniversary in an apparent bid to thwart demonstrations, politicians said.

"The people's movement will intensify. Though it will be a hard battle, the outcome will be rewarding," said Bam Dev Gautam, a leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).