Nepal plan to extend emergency in trouble

Emergency rule was imposed on November 26 after maoist guerrillas withdrew from the stalemated peace talks and renewed their six-year war against government forces. The state of emergency suspends press freedom and allows soldiers and police to detain people without charge on suspicion that they support or sympathise with the Maoists’ goals of ending the monarchy and redistributing land.

Since the rebels began their violent campaign in 1996, more than 3,500 people have been killed. More than half have died during the past five months as the Army began sweeping rebel hideouts.

At Deuba’s request, King Gyanendra has called a Parliament session for May 23 to consider the extension of the emergency, due to lapse on Saturday.

‘‘The party has been reiterating that emergency rule should be avoided as far as possible and should keep the door open for peace talks,’’ said Arjun Narsingh, a spokesman for the Nepali Congress party.

The government needs the support of two-thirds of the 205-member house of representatives, the lower house of Parliament, to extend the emergency.