UK recalls ambassador from Nepal

Tuesday, 15 February 2005 12:00 AM

The UK has recalled its ambassador from Nepal amid deepening concern at the political situation.

The USA and a number of other European nations have also recalled their ambassadors in protest at King Gyanendra's seizure of power.

On February 1, the king dissolved his country's government and declared a state of emergency.

Speaking on state-run television and radio he accused the political parties of failing to hold elections or end the civil war with Maoist rebels.

The king then shut down communications across the country, closed Nepal's airspace and placed a number of prominent opposition leaders under house arrest.

Though a number of these have now been freed, the BBC reports that the leaders of the two main opposition parties are still under house arrest.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that Britain strongly supports "constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy in Nepal, and want to see a sustainable peace-process. We continue to call upon the Maoists to end their violence and for both sides to return to the negotiating table.

"But we were very clear, when the king dismissed his prime minister, that we regarded this as a backward step which undermined Nepal's democratic institutions and risked further instability."

Mr Straw said he believed it was "appropriate for us to recall our ambassador so that we may reflect with him, and with our international partners, on the way forward."

Britain though will not sever diplomatic relations with Nepal.

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