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King Gyanendra lifts emergency

Kathmandu, April 30
Faced with mounting pressure from India and other countries, Nepal's King Gyanendra has lifted a state of emergency imposed after the February 1 power grab, when he had sacked the government, suspended fundamental rights and curbed freedom of the Press.

Gyanendra had assured Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Jakarta last week on the sidelines of the Afro-Asian summit that he would initiate steps for early restoration of multi-party democracy in the Himalayan kingdom.
The re-arrest of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba earlier this week had resulted in sharp reaction from India, which said such moves were "contrary" to the assurances given by the Nepalese King.

New Delhi has also maintained that the question of resumption of arms supply to Nepal suspended on February 1 in the wake of sacking of the Deuba government, declaration of emergency, detention of political leaders and clamping of Press censorship, was under "constant review."

The state of emergency was lifted as per Article 115 (11) of the Constitution of Nepal, effective from midnight, the Royal Palace notice issued late night says. King Gyanendra had met several leaders on the sidelines of the historic African-Asian Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia last week and promised to restore democracy. — PTI