Saturday, April 22 2006 10:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Condemning King Gyanendra for 'oppressing' the people, the European Union today voiced concern over the deteriorating situation in Nepal and said it stood ready to help India in ensuring a resolution to the burgeoning crisis in the Himalayan Kingdom.

This message was conveyed to Minister of State forExternal Affairs Anand Sharma when a nine-member EU Parliamentary delegation met him here.

"We have conveyed to Sharma that India is a key player in the region and the EU will assist India in resolving the crisis in Nepal," EU delegation for South Asia and SAARC chairman Neena Gill told reporters here.

India has sent special envoy to the Himalayan Kingdom on Wednesday to urge King Gyanendra to hold genuine dialogue with political parties and offered to support all efforts to restore multi-party democracy in Nepal.

Noting that curfew imposed in Kathmandu was 'actually fuelling' demonstrations in the country, the Ludhiana-born EU legislator said," The King should get into the mode of dialogue rather than oppressing people".

"We are concerned with the deteriorating situation in Nepal," Gill said adding that the EU Parliament had earlier asked the United States to stop using Nepal as a military base to send the King a "strong message to impress upon the King to restore democracy".

She said the EU had also asked the King to involve Maoists in the dialogue process.

Asked about the progress in India-EU Action Plan signed September last, Gill said the initiative was on the right path and meetings on security and terrorism will be held in Helsinki next month.