Washington: A senior US official urged King Gyanendra to respect Nepal's Constitution, after he delayed a deadline to cede the power he assumed after accusing his government of incompetence.

The monarch earlier missed a self-imposed handover date to appoint an interim government after sacking Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Cabinet on October 4 over their handling of a vicious Maoist insurgency.

Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca on October 11 renewed US support for Nepal's battle against the Maoists, in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, a political think-tank.

"The Nepal government has the right to do this in the framework of the Constitution," she said.

"We regret however that the uncertain security situation has forced the postponement of the elections that were originally scheduled for November.

"As a friend of Nepal we believe the preservation of a Constitutional monarchy and a multiparty Democracy is critical to resolving this national crisis.

"We firmly believe the actions of the King and political parties need to be in accordance with Nepal's Constitution."

The Maoists declared a "people's war" in 1996 to topple the Constitutional monarchy and establish a communist state they argue would benefit the impoverished kingdom's majority.

Some 5,000 people have been reported dead in the insurgency.

Washington has been a staunch supporter of the Nepal government's battle against the Maoists, and promised aid in the context of its global campaign against terrorism.