Peace and poll, King's main priorities

King Gyanendra has given top priority to peace and parliamentary elections, said former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Nepalese King Gyanendra has given top priority to peace in the country and parliamentary elections said former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

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Deuba, along with Rastriya Prajatantra Party President Pashupai Shumsher Rana and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Mandal) President Badri Mandal had an audience with the King at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace here.

The King has given priority to restoring peace in the country and holding parliamentary elections, Deuba said after the meeting.

Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and Nepal Communist Party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal earlier rejected the King's call for separate meeting seeking a collective audience.

"If appointed Prime Minister my priority would be to form an all-party government, hold the general election and re-start the peace talks with the Maoists, I told the King," Deuba said.

"When I advised the King to take the five party leaders in joint audience he said he was hopeful," Deuba said.

Deuba, Rana and Mandal met the King for the second time within a month.

Meanwhile, the five agitating parties continued their street demonstrations and sit-in today also to press the King to restore democracy and form an all party government at their recomendation.