Friday, February 18 2005 16:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Mounting pressure for "urgent" restoration of democracy in Nepal, India will send a "message" to King Gyanendra through its envoy this weekend while Britain today (Feb 18, 2005) said it is "actively" considering suspension of military aid to the Himalayan Kingdom.

The developments in Nepal figured prominently in the wide-ranging talks between External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his British counterpart Jack Straw in New Delhi with both emphasising the "urgent need for restoration of normal democratic processes, release of political prisoners and lifting of censorship on media" in that country.

"We noted that the international community has strongly deplored the recent developments in Nepal, which constitute a serious setback to the cause of democracy in that country and are a cause of grave concern to us all," Singh told a joint press interaction with Straw.

India was watching the situation in Nepal "very very carefully" to see "what we can do if the situation does not change", Singh said, adding Ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee will return to Kathmandu on Sunday (Feb 20, 2005) with a "verbal message" for the King, who seized power on Feb 1, 2005.

Singh said New Delhi hoped that the King would "sooner than later restore all processes of democracy allowing political parties to get together leading to elections.

Asked about the demand of Amnesty International for suspension of military aid to Nepal, Straw said it was under "active consideration" of Britain.