The US government has said it is concerned about the arrest of nearly two hundred of political activists and leaders during Tuesday’s peaceful demonstrations launched by five opposition parties across the country.

Responding to a query during the regular press briefings in Washington D. C. on Tuesday, spokesman of the US State Department, Richard Boucher, said (the US) had very clearly and consistently expressed its concern about the arrests, about the arrest of political figures and prominent figures in society there.

“We don’t think that that is correct and we have urged their release and a return to the past democratic dialogue,” he added. He did not elaborate.

Addressing the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations in Washington D. C. last week, deputy Assistant Secretary of State Donald Camp said His Majesty King Gyanendra needed to move quickly to reinstate and protect civil and human rights, release those detained under the state of emergency and begin a dialogue with the political parties intended to restore multi-party democratic institutions under a constitutional monarchy.

He further said the US had urged HM the King to lift the state of emergency and provide clear roadmaps to restore democratic institutions and address the Maoist insurgency. “Likewise, we will encourage the political leaders as they are released to ensure their parties rejoin the political process in a constructive manner in order to chart the way ahead,” he added.