Opposition warns to step up protests

Nepal's opposition warns of stepped up protests against until King Gyanendra complies with their demands to restore democracy.

Nepal's opposition parties on Friday warned they would step up their protests until King Gyanendra complies with their demands to restore a democratically elected government.

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"We have no other alternative but to intensify the protests," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the United Marxist Leninist Communist Party of Nepal.

A large rally was scheduled for later Friday during which the five main opposition parties would outline the next moves in their campaign.

They want Gyanendra to give up the executive powers he took two years ago when he dissolved Parliament and appointed a pro-monarchy government.

The opposition parties want to form a new government and have a say in who should succeed Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, who resigned last week after anti-government demonstrations. Party leaders said they have not had a response from the king to an offer they made last week for a meeting between them and the monarch to try to end the political crisis.

The opposition claim the king overstepped his bounds as a constitutional monarch when he sacked the elected government in 2002. The campaign to restore democracy grew in size last month, with tens of thousands marching in the streets despite a ban on public rallies.

Some demonstrations turned violent and thousands of people were arrested.