KATHMANDU, Nepal, April 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. embassy in Nepal has asked its citizens, staff and their family members to leave Nepal due to security concerns.
"Under ordered departure, mission family members and non-emergency American employees will depart Nepal as soon as possible. American citizens should also depart Nepal as soon as possible," said a statement from the embassy.
"American citizens also are advised that the Nepali government continues to use curfews and other somewhat violent measures to control the growing number of large and widespread demonstrations," the statement continued.
It said the U.S. State Department is concerned by threats to the personal safety of its citizens from political instability, civil disorder, demonstrations and lack of supplies and essentials entering the country.
The U.S. embassy said that protesters have attacked numerous vehicles, including diplomatic cars, during demonstrations.
The United States is not alone in issuing warnings about Nepal. The Australian department of foreign affairs and trade on Monday reissued its travel advisory to Nepal, advising Australian citizens not to travel to the country.
Meanwhile, Nepalese opposition parties greeted with joy King Gyanendra's decision to reinstate parliament. The seven-party alliance declared that Tuesday's protest rally would become a victory rally in celebration.
"It's positive. Now the responsibility of a reinstated parliament and the political parties is to bring the Maoists into the mainstream of democracy and peace," said a spokesman for the Deuba' Nepali Congress (Democratic) Party, Nepal's former ruling party.
In February 2005, King Gyanendra dismissed the parliament run by the Deuba government, grabbing absolute power with the claim that parliament had long been ineffective in tackling the country's growing Maoist insurgency.
