Thursday, September 22 2005 14:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Facing intense pressure at home and abroad to restore democracy, Nepal has said that it will hold 'open and free' municipal elections in April next year and national parliamentary elections within two years.

"The King (Gyanendra) is determined to re-energize multiparty democratic institutions by restoring sustainable peace and making democracy meaningful, cultured and refined," Nepal's Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey said in the UN General Assembly.

"To this end, we will be holding municipal elections by April 2006, to be followed by national elections to parliament within two years," Pandey said yesterday (Sept 21, 2005) asserting the King's commitment to multiparty democracy was 'unflinching and total'.

Giving specific timetable, the Minister sought help from other nations to ensure that the elections are 'fair and free.'

Defending the February one takeover by King Gyanendra, Pandey said it was necessary to fight corruption and insurgency by Maoist guerrillas, which had taken 12,000 lives in the last nine years.

King Gyanendra had assumed absolute powers seven months ago after dismissing the Sher Bahadur Deuba Government, imposed emergency and strict media censorship.

He has been under intense pressure inside and outside the country to restore democracy and has repeatedly promised to hold elections.

The alliance of seven main political parties has intensified its pro-democracy agitation in recent weeks and the capital is witnessing massive protests daily.