Thursday, April 20 2006 14:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: India's special envoy to Nepal Karan Singh today (Apr 20, 2006) met King Gyanendra and handed over a letter to him from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh met the monarch to impress upon him the urgent need to initiate dialogue with political parties aimed at reconciliation.

Nepalese TV said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. Political situation in Nepal and issues of bilateral interest were also discussed.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of heightened tension in the Himalayan Kingdom. The Royal Government has imposed an 18-hour curfew from 2 am this morning and issued shoot-at-sight orders to prevent a mass rally marking the start of the third week of a general strike called by opposition parties to force the King to restore democracy.

Singh also had a meeting with former Nepalese prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa today.

The envoy yesterday held talks with former Prime Ministers Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba.