Gyanendra sacks PM, delays polls indefinitely

‘‘We have released Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who has been incapable to conduct elections as scheduled earlier, from his post,’’ Gyanendra said in the local Nepali language. ‘‘The council of ministers has been abolished. The elections set for November 13 have been put off.’’

The King’s move followed a recommendation by Deuba’s Cabinet on Thursday to delay elections by a year due to mounting Maoist violence.

Deuba dissolved the Parliament in May and ordered elections for November, 18 months ahead of schedule, amid a row over the extension of a state of Emergency giving sweeping powers to soldiers to crush the revolt.

Maoist rebels have said they would derail the vote and had announced a three-day nationwide shutdown during the first round of voting in November.

The Nepalese Election Commission said last week voting would be held over six phases and two months so security forces could move across the mountainous country to protect voters and candidates.