Nepal King revives Parliament

Yielding to unrelenting pressure, Gyanendra met the key demand of the SPA.

Yielding to unrelenting pressure from pro-democracy movement, King Gyanendra of Nepal on Monday night met a key demand of the Seven-Party Alliance by announcing that Parliament, which he had dissolved in 2002, had been revived.

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"I am reviving Parliament in the interest of the people," he said.

The King's announcement came hours before a massive rally in Kathmandu on Tuesday organised by the SPA which had rejected his offer last week to relinquish executive power and his invitation that they choose a new Prime Minister.

The SPA had instead demanded revival of Parliament, setting up of a constituent assembly and for the King to give up not only executive power but also the state power which gives him control of the army.