The United Kingdom (UK) has marked the municipal elections held on Wednesday as a meaningless exercise to resolve the political crisis of the country.

A press statement issued by the FCO Minister Kim Howells on Thursday said, “The UK does not believe that the municipal elections in Nepal on February 8 was a meaningful exercise in canvassing the political wishes of the people of Nepal.”

The statement further said, “We have consistently urged the King to reach out to the political parties to develop a common agenda for a full return of multiparty democracy, and have stressed the need for an inclusive and comprehensive process to achieve a negotiated settlement.”

“The elections were tarnished by the efforts of the government to quash dissident by restricting civil liberties and the media. Those factors in no way justify the Maoists’ enforcement of a national strike with the threat of violence which also held some voters away and their intimidation and killing of candidates, which we condemn absolutely,” the statement adds.

The statement also urged the King to immediately release all political detainees and recognise the need to negotiate with the political parties on a return to peace and democracy and also urged the Maoists to immediately cease their campaign of violence and intimidation including, against elected officials.

Earlier, United States marked the polls as ‘a hollow attempt’ and called on the King to release political detainees and open dialogue with the political parties.

In its reaction, India questioned the credibility of the municipal elections.

Japan has also ‘deplored’ the way the elections were held “without a broad support” of the Nepali people.

India, the US and UK have been stalling military assistance to Nepal following the February 1 royal takeover of last year, marking the move as setback to democracy.

Nearly 20 percent of the eligible 1.4 million voters took part in the municipal polls, which was actively boycotted by the seven opposition parties.