Thursday, April 14 2005 16:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's King Gyanendra today (Apr 14, 2005) announced that municipal elections would be held within a year to "activate the democratic process" in the Himalayan Kingdom, more than two months after he seized power ousting the elected Government.

"As law and order situation is gradually improving due to the efficiency of the security forces, there should not be any delay in activating the democratic process," King Gyanendra claimed in a speech marking the Nepali New Year.

"We have directed the Election Commission to conduct municipal elections within this Nepali year or April 2006 to strengthen multiparty system based on election through adult franchise," he said.

The King, who is facing stiff international pressure to restore democracy, however, did not mention when Parliamentary elections would be held and refrained from talking about the peace efforts with Maoist rebels.

Claiming there has been a "steady improvement" in the law and order situation, the King said the seizure of power was necessary for "reactivating the stalled democratic process".

Parliamentary polls set for 2002 November was postponed indefinitely due to Maoist threats and elections have not been held for several years for the 58 municipal bodies in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leader and the senior Opposition leader Girija Prasad Koirala in his message called upon everyone to take initiatives for reinstating democracy, which he said was essential for resolving the present crisis.