Tuesday, April 25 2006 10:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Political parties in Nepal are meeting to consider their next course of action in the wake of King Gyanendra's announcement to restore parliament as thousands of jubiliant Nepalese flooded the streets to celebrate the monarch's climbdown.

Top leaders of the seven-party alliance were holding a joint meeting at the residence of Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala at Maharajgunj this morning to discuss the future strategy.

Opposition leaders said the parties have called off the planned mass protest and instead would hold a victory celebration in the capital today (Apr 25, 2006).

Thousands of jubiliant Nepalese came down on the streets singing, dancing and shouting slogans in favour of democracy after the King agreed to their demands to reinstate the parliament.

King Gyanendra yesterday yielded to unrelenting pressure from pro-democracy movement and announced that parliament, which he dissolved in 2002, had been revived. "We declare the reinstatement of the House of Representatives we are confident the nation will forge ahead toward sustainable peace, progress, full-fledged democracy and national unity," he said in his brief address to the nation.

The move to restore parliament would be effective from Friday, he said.

The King also accepted the road map of the seven-party alliance to restore democracy and peace.

Nepali Congress, Nepali Congress (Democratic) and Nepal Communist Party-UML and other alliance members have welcomed the King's Proclamation.