KATMANDU, Nepal, March 20 (UPI) -- Nepal's Maoists and political parties have united against the royal regime, demanding the restoration of democracy.
The Hindu newspaper said Monday Nepal's Maoists and major political parties announced a joint decision to launch a month of peaceful agitation against the king in April and to find a solution to the decade-old armed conflict by holding polls to the constituent assembly.
The seven-party alliance for the restoration of democracy also urged the rebels to end the blockade of roads connecting Katmandu with the rest of the country.
"The Maoists and the alliance agreed to form an interim government by holding a national political conference of the agitating democratic forces and to establish full-fledged democracy by holding elections to the constituent assembly," said a statement issued by the alliance.
"The Maoists agreed to withdraw the three-week long economic blockade," said Shekhar Koirala, a senior Nepalese Congress leader, although the Maoists have yet to confirm the statement.
Koirala said the intensified agitation program, starting April 6, includes a four-day general strike and civil disobedience movement and a massive public rally in Katmandu on April 8. The leaders of the alliance called on the people to participate in their peaceful movement to restore democracy and return sovereign power and state authority to the people through elections.
"The alliance also called on the international community to support their initiatives to end absolute monarchy and find a political solution to the insurgency," the statement said.
It continued by saying the alliance parties reiterated their commitment to reinstate parliament and form a powerful all-party government, which will hold talks with the Maoist rebels, seeking common ground.
