Nepali King Gyanendra declared on Friday evening to dissolve the
Council of Ministers, or cabinet, formed under his chairmanship on
Feb. 1, 2005 and gave up his power of the state to the Nepalese
people.
Addressing to the nation through state-run Radio Nepal and Nepal
Television at 7:00 PM local time (13:15 GMT), the king declared to
dissolve the cabinet, and asked the seven opposition political
party alliance to recommend the name of new Prime minister as soon
as possible.
"According to the constitution of Nepal, we have returned the
power of the state to the people," the king said in the royal
proclamation, adding, "the present cabinet will continue to
function until the new government to be formed."
Also on Friday, the Nepali government declared to extend curfew
order imposed in the capital Kathmandu Valley by another four
hours.
"The curfew order imposed on Friday in the Valley, from 9:00 AM
local time (03:15 GMT) to 8:00 PM local time (14:15 GMT), is
increased until 12:00 PM local time (18:15 GMT)," state-run
RadioNepal said.
Issuing separate public notices, the District Administration
Offices (DAOs) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur, extended the announced
curfew hour, citing possible violence and loss of property during
agitation being carried out by the seven opposition political
parties.
The curfew orders have been clamped in within and 200 meter
outside the Ring Road area, the periphery of downtown Kathmandu and
Lalitpur cities, of the valley, the notices said, adding, "Security
personnel have been authorized to shoot at those defying the
curfew."
DAOs, the local government offices, on Thursday also imposed
25-hour curfew in the same places of the valley beginning 2:00 AM
local time (21:15 GMT on Wednesday) without interval.
The seven opposition political party alliances announced
indefinite general strike across the country from April 6 and
intensified the agitations.
(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2006)
