Bhattarai breaks silence, asks Gyanendra to end direct rule and give peace a chance

He asked for the withdrawal of curfew in and outside the capital, invite parliamentary parties for dialogue and form a democratic government with full powers to negotiate on behalf of the Nepalese people to settle the Maoist conflict and ultimately hold elections for Parliament. He also demanded that the proposed municipal elections should be cancelled immediately.

Bhattarai who successfully led the government and ensured Nepal’s transition to democracy from absolute monarchy in 1990 broke his silence as King Gyanendra appears adamant to hold municipal elections, and Maoists as determined to stall it violently, with more bloodshed predicted.

‘‘The country is facing a grave crisis unprecedented in its history—one that we can and must avert. If wisdom can be made to prevail among all the major political forces and if the best interest of the nation and the aspirations of the Nepalese people for peace and democracy is given precedence then we are still in time to salvage our beloved country. This is not the time to portion blame to settle old scores. This is the time for contemplation and reconciliation,’’ an emotionally charged appeal—a copy of which was sent to the royal palace—said.

China terms royal crackdown on parties ‘internal affair’

BEIJING: Amid worldwide censure of Nepal’s royal government for its latest crackdown on pro-democracy parties, China on Tuesday termed it as an ‘‘internal affair’’ of the Himalayan kingdom and stressed on dialogue to end the turmoil. ‘‘It is their internal affairs,’’said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in his first comments on the latest political turmoil in Nepal.

‘‘As a friendly neighbour, we hope that the situation can be stabilised at an early date and various sectors in Nepal can narrow down their differences through dialogue and make concerted efforts to ensure prosperity and development of their own country,’’ he added. —PTI