Tuesday, August 30 2005 12:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Admitting that the gap between him and Nepal's political parties has "widened", King Gyanendra has said he is open for dialogue with the parties provided they make their stand clear on certain issues, including terrorism.

"I have never said that I will never meet them, but there has to be some basis for it," the King said in an interview to the official media.

"The political parties must possess crystal-clear views on four issues- terrorism, good governance and corruption, politicisation in bureaucracy and financial discipline - for talks," he said adding, "if they make clear views on these issues then there will be room for dialogue".

Conceding that the gap between him and political parties has "widened", he said "there have been squabbles between the political parties and the King as between husband and wife, which is natural when we are too close".

This is the first time since the February 1 Royal takeover that the King conceded there are difference between him and the parties and that he is open for dialogue.

The King's interview came a day before the 11th General Convention of the largest Democratic Party Nepali Congress, which amended its constitution yesterday by removing the clause "Constitutional Monarchy" from its objectives saying that it has become "irrelevant."

The King also accused the political parties of getting lost to the Maoists. "The political parties talks about co-work or holding dialogue with the terrorists, they should be clear on such matters," he said adding, "the people want peace, they are plagued by terror."

Justifying his February 1 seizure of power, the King said "the main goal of the February 1 proclamation was to curb terrorism."

On the Maoists, the King said "a solution to the problem can be found provided those who have been misguided make nationalism a meeting point."

Admitting that some of the Maoists' demands were "justifiable," he said the 21-point programme announced by him attempted to address the issues raised by the Guerillas.

The King has also asked the media to be more responsible and disciplined and urged them not to encourage terrorism.

"Its not upto me to direct how to operate media," he said adding "what we want is they should perform their responsibility in a disciplined manner."