Three Sherpa climbers were buried in an ice fall in the upper Khumbu region on Mt Everest on Friday.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) quoted a Liason officer and team leader as saying that Ang Phinjo Sherpa, Lakpa Tseri Sherpa and Dawa Temba Sherpa of Solukhumbu died when a huge chunk of ice fell on them at 7 a.m. at an altitude of 5,630 metres.

According to the statement, other climbers sprung into action soon after the incident but could not find the bodies. Three other Sherpas were injured in the accident. nepalnews.com pb Apr 22 06

The seven agitating political parties are holding separate internal meetings to make public the party’s view on the royal proclamation of His Majesty the King on Friday.

King Gyanendra in the royal proclamation on Friday said, he had returned the executive power to the people as per the Article 35 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal and asked the agitating seven-party alliance to recommend a name for the Prime Minister.

Nepali Congress (NC) is holding meeting at the residence of NC president Girija Prasad Koirala’s residence to discuss the royal proclamation. All central committee members that are available in capital are participating in the meeting.

Likewise, the CPN-UML and NC (Democratic) are also holding separate central committee meeting at their party headquarters to discuss the royal proclamation and future strategies of the parties.

According to party sources, Nepal Workers’ and Peasant’s party and People’s Front Nepal is also scheduled to meet today to discuss the royal proclamation and future strategies.

The Seven Party Alliance (SPA) will make public its view about the royal proclamation and SPA’s future strategy after the internal meetings of the party.

The meeting of Joint People’s Movement Coordination Committee held immediately after the royal proclamation decided to further intensify the ongoing general strike and demonstrations until further notice saying King Gyanendra’s address could not address their roadmap to peace, democracy and the demands of the people on the streets. nepalnews.com pb Apr 22 06

India has welcomed King Gyanendra’s announcement to hand over the executive power to the people.

This action ‘should now pave the way for restoration of political stability and economic recovery of the country’, External Affairs Ministry Navtej Sarna said on Friday.

“India welcomes his (Gyanendra’s) intention to transfer all executive power of the State to a government constituted by the alliance of the seven political parties, which have been in the forefront of the movement by the people of Nepal for the restoration of multi-party democracy and their democratic freedoms,” Sarna said.

The spokesman noted that the King, through the action, had reaffirmed his commitment to multi-party democracy and Constitutional monarchy.

Likewise, India’s special envoy Dr. Karan Singh has welcomed the King’s offer, saying the King has taken a bold step.

Report quoted him as saying, “I think it is the right thing to defuse the situation,” adding, “Now the political parties have to shoulder the responsibility and take the process forward. The sooner that can happen the better it will be.”

King Gyanendra in the royal proclamation on Friday said, he had returned the executive power to the people as per the Article 35 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal and asked the agitating seven-party alliance to recommend a name for the Prime Minister.

The United States saluted the people of Nepal’s courage and resilience in their struggle for democracy.

Welcoming the King’s decision to return power to the people Sean McCormack, spokesman of the US Department of State on Friday said, “We are pleased that King Gyanendra’s message today made clear that sovereignty resides with the people.”

“We expect the King to live up to his words, and allow the parties to form a government.”

McCormack urged the parties to respond quickly by choosing a prime minister and a cabinet.

The people of Nepal deserve a democratic government that can return stability and peace to their country, he said, adding, “We urge all sides to refrain from violence to allow the restoration of democracy to take place swiftly and peacefully.”

India and US had stalled military assistance following the February 1 royal takeover of last year, saying the move setback to democracy and pressurizing the King to immediately restore democracy in the country. nepalnews.com pb Apr 22 06

The Unites States Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday said that until the embassy in Kathmandu resumes visa services, US Embassy in New Delhi would accept non-immigrant, immigrant, and Diversity Lottery visa applications of Nepali citizens and non-Nepali citizens legally residing in Nepal effective April 24.

The US has closed the Consular Section and American Center Library of Kathmandu until further notice citing ongoing violence, curfews, and widespread insecurity in Nepal. nepalnews.com pb Apr 22 06

Two central level leaders of UML, Bamdev Gautam and Jhalanath Khanal, who were arrested on Friday at Tribhuwan International Airport were released on Saturday morning.

According to UML source, the leader duo released at around 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The two leaders are also participating in the standing committee meeting of the party organized to discuss the royal address of Friday and future strategy of the party.

Police arrested them as they returned to Kathmandu from the Indian capital, New Delhi, Friday afternoon.

According to reports, Khanal returned at Kathmandu directly from New Delhi while Gautam arrived at bordering town of Bhairahawa and then flew to Kathmandu.

Khanal and Gautam were in the Indian capital for over last two months reportedly negotiating with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leadership. They are said to have played an important role in working out the second memorandum of understanding between the seven party alliance and the Maoists in March this year.

The first understanding was signed in New Delhi in November last year in which Maoists agreed to join the political mainstream and give up violence provided their main demand for holding elections to draft a new constitution were fulfilled. nepalnews.com pb Apr 22 06

The government imposed an 8-hour long curfew from 12:00 this afternoon in Kathmandu as angry protests snowballed in the capital against Friday’s royal address.

Issuing separate public notices, local authorities in Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts clamped shoot-to-kill curfew orders.

The seven opposition political parties which have been organizing nationwide general strike since the last 17 days are engaged in separate meetings at the moment to finalize their formal position over the royal address and the ongoing movement. nepalnews.com mk Apr 22 06

The much-awaited meeting of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) has kicked off at the residence of former premier and Nepali Congress president, GP Koirala, at Maharajgunj Saturday afternoon.

Top leaders of the seven opposition parties are taking part in the crucial meeting that is expected to decide the alliance’s position vis a vis Friday’s royal proclamation.

Earlier, all seven parties had met separately to work out their party’s respective positions. According to reports, Nepali Congress, UML, NC (Democratic) and other left parties have rejected the royal offer to name the new prime minister on behalf of the alliance. They further said the modalities of transfer of power from the king to the people is not clear.

Talking to reporters after the meeting of Nepali Congress central working committee at GP Koirala’s residence, central committee member of the NC Arjun Narsingh KC said the royal proclamation had failed to address any of the agenda put forward by the opposition parties.

“The `people’s movement’ will continue. We are all determined to take this struggle to new heights,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are reports of protests across the country’s against the royal proclamation. Tens of thousands of people in Pokhara, Dhangadhi and Chitwan, among others, have taken to streets cautioning leaders not to take up the royal offer and continue agitation unless the SPA’s demands are met. nepalnews.com by Apr 22 06

Latest reports say tens of thousands of demonstrators are marching through inner parts of the capital, Kathmandu—a restricted zone—Saturday afternoon chanting slogans against Friday’s royal proclamation.

Nepal F. M.- – a private sector radio station—has reported that police have fired rubber bullets at Tripureswore, Dilli Bazar, Koteswore and Chabahil area to stop tens of thousands of demonstrators who were trying to move towards Ratna Park in the city centre to pay tributes to the people killed during the on-going pro-democracy movement.

At least eight persons were injured at Tripureswore when security personnel opened fire to stop the crowd from moving towards Tundikhel (Shahid Manch). Thousands of people had walked for hours to reach Tripureswore from Bhaktapur and surrounding areas. As the security personnel dispersed the crowed, thousands of people crossed over the Bagmati bridge and reached Thapathali from Patan to head towards Singha Durbar.

Security personnel are having hard time to stop the crowd, reports say.

Huge mass of demonstrators is also marching along Ring Road and other parts of the capital denouncing the royal proclamation, according to reports.

Details to follow.

nepalnews.com by Apr 22 06

In their first reaction to the royal proclamation, the seven party alliance (SPA) has rejected the royal call to form a new government and has insisted on the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament.

A joint statement issued after the meeting of the SPA said the common agenda of the alliance including the reinstatement of the dissolved House, formation of an all-party government and dialogue with the CPN (Maoist) and holding elections to the constituent assembly was still the only option left to resolve the long-drawn political crisis in the country.

“There is no rationale behind accepting the offer to form a government at a time when the king has not addressed any of the demands being put forward by the SPA,” Nepali Congress spokesman Krishna Sitaula told reporters after the meeting. The alliance claimed that the royal proclamation had “undermined” the people’s sentiments.

Earlier, reports quoted Sitaula as saying that the alliance was likely to issue an ultimatum to King Gyanendra to reinstate the dissolved parliament. The joint statement, however, doesn’t mention any such ultimatum.

The seven party’s latest decision has come when tens of thousands of people have taken to streets across the country denouncing the royal proclamation. Hundreds of opposition activists chanted slogans against the royal proclamation in front of Mr. Koirala’s house as the meeting proceeded.

A delegation of the European Union envoys based in Kathmandu met the senior leaders of the SPA today immediately after their meeting had kicked off.

Details were not immediately available.

The EU has welcomed the royal proclamation and expressed hope that it would open the path to a peaceful process in Nepal and to a situation of renewed stability and dialogue.

The opposition parties have also announced that the over two-week-old nationwide general strike will continue until their demands are met.

The parties said they were sympathetic to the hardships being faced by the people due to the 16-day-old general strike. They, however, did not explain what led them to continue the strike even after millions of people had supported their movement across the country.

On Friday, King Gyanendra had invited the SPA to name the new prime minister. His Majesty also announced that he had returned the sovereign power back to the people. nepalnews.com by Apr 22 06

Though pro-democracy activists across the country continue to take out rallies denouncing Friday’s royal proclamation, international community have taken King Gyanendra’s address in a positive note and have welcomed it.

In a statement issued hours after the royal proclamation, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the proclamation that affirmed that executive power will be returned to the Nepali people.

A UN spokesman said Mr. Annan hoped that the development “will result in the speedy restoration of democratic order, an end to the conflict and the establishment of lasting peace through an inclusive process of dialogue.”

In a statement released in New York on Friday, the spokesman also stressed that the parties must “work out the modalities for the transfer of power in a timely, orderly and responsible manner.”

UN human rights monitors have condemned deadly police force against unarmed pro-democracy demonstrators in Nepal, reporting over a dozen gunshot injuries on Thursday.

Similarly, the European Union welcomed the royal announcement saying it hoped this would restore stability.

“We hope this opens the path to a peaceful process in Nepal and to a situation of renewed stability and dialogue,” a spokesman for the EU Austrian Presidency said in Brussels on Friday.

The Presidency had earlier condemned Nepalese authorities for opening fire on demonstrators to suppress the protests, saying this marked a watershed in the crisis. “The Presidency of the EU roundly condemns the use of these and other excessive measures by government forces to curb pro-democracy protests,” it said, adding that a long curfew had aggravated the already difficult lives of ordinary people.

The United States and Canada have also welcomed the royal proclamation of Friday.

In a statement issued Friday, Seam McCormack, spokesman of the US State Department, said, “The United States salutes the people of Nepal’s courage and resilience in their struggle for democracy. We are pleased that King Gyanendra’s message today made clear that sovereignty resides with the people. We expect the King to live up to his words, and allow the parties to form a government.”

The US has urged the parties to respond quickly by choosing a prime minister and a cabinet. “The people of Nepal deserve a democratic government that can return stability and peace to their country. We urge all sides to refrain from violence to allow the restoration of democracy to take place swiftly and peacefully,” the statement added.

Similarly, in a statement issued Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister of Canda, Peter MacKay, said, “Canada welcomes King Gyanendra’s offer to hand over power to the seven-party alliance. The fact that he has invited the seven parties to name a prime minister represents an important and welcome concession that we hope will pave the way to a democratic, constitutional system of government in Nepal. We hope that the King’s gesture will help bring an end to the political unrest and violence we’ve seen in Nepal over the past several weeks, re-establish democracy and human rights, and lead to national reconciliation.

“Canada urges the seven‑party alliance to work together and refrain from violence during this delicate transition period to help return stability to the country,” Minister MacKay said.

Nepal’s southern neighbour, India, has also welcomed the royal proclamation and expressed hope that parties would come forward to form a new government. nepalnews.com by Apr 22 06