Wednesday, February 2 2005 15:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not attend the two-day SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Summit in Dhaka slated to be held from February six.

The decision to this effect was taken at the highest level, official sources said.

This is apparently keeping in view the developments in Nepal where King Gyanendra has assumed all executive powers after dismissing the Sher Bahadur Dueba-led coalition Government.

With the SAARC Charter mandating the presence of all Heads or State or Government for the Summit to take place, the Dhaka meet of the seven-nation grouping is likely to be called off.

The Summit was originally scheduled to be held earlier this month but was postponed due to the tsunami disaster affecting three member countries -India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

India has termed the Nepalese Monarch's action as a "serious setback" to the cause of democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom and a cause of grave concern.

Official sources contended that holding of the Summit would also tend to give legitimacy to the King's yesterday's action.