Thursday, February 10 2005 11:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States has said that Nepalese security forces have prevented its Ambassador from visiting senior political leaders under detention and asked the Himalayan Kingdom to return to democracy and restore civil liberties immediately.

Concerned over the actions of King Gyanendra, who sacked the Sher Bahadur Deuba Government and clamped national emergency on February 1, US said that it would "continue to press for the restoration of civil liberties in Nepal".

"The actions of the King, in summarily dismissing the Government and declaring a state of emergency and taking repressive measures such as banning media and jailing political opponents, is something that we view with the greatest concern," State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters in Washington yesterday (Feb 9, 2005).

Asked about the fate of detained political activists, he said, "The United States has called repeatedly for the King to release detainees, lift house arrest and restore civil liberties and freedom of the press. US Ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty made these points directly to the King when he met him on February 7, and has also been meeting with members of Nepal's civil society."

Nepalese security forces, however, "prevented the US Ambassador from meeting with several senior political leaders under house arrest in Kathmandu," he claimed, adding "the United States will continue to press for the restoration of civil liberties in Nepal".