Kathmandu: Observing that Democracy in Nepal is under "tremendous strain", the US has called for elections to bring back the Democratic process even as it asked the Maoists to abandon the path of violence and come to the negotiating table.

"I hope Democracy would revive in Nepal, and elections should be held to bring back Democratic process," US Ambassador to Nepal Michael Malinowsky told reporters at Seshnarayan village, where he attended a function in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

"We want to see Nepal's Democracy progress, her economy progress," he said, adding right now "both are under tremendous strain".

The US Ambassador also asked the rebels to adopt the path of peace.

"We call upon people like Baburam Bhattarai, chief Maoist negotiator, to come back to the peace process, to utilise his ability for building peace and not for destruction."

Asking all law-abiding people to be united to fight terrorism, he said, "Terror has to be eliminated from the world, be it Nepal, Afghanistan or New York."

PTI