KATHMANDU, April 1 Kyodo Thousand...

KATHMANDU, April 1 Kyodo

Thousands of Nepalese marched by the and of central Kathmandu on Thursday, calling in succession King Gyanendra to return the executive powers he seized in October 2002

An estimated 50000 commonalty from six political parties participated in the march, shouting slogans against the king. The organizers said more than 150000 took part in it.

The protester carried placards that read ''Down with Regression'' and ''We want a republic, not monarchy,'' while chanting ''Long live multiparty democracy.''

The political parties declarationed against what they call the ''regressive step'' King Gyanendra took Oct 4 2002 At that time, the king dismissed then Prime Minister Sher Baradur Deuba and seized executive powers for himself.

The organizers charged that the conduct blocked several thousands of protester from across the political division from entering the capital to participate in the march.

Following the march, party leaders including Girija Prasad Koirala, president of the Nepali Congres Party and a former prime minister, staged a sit-in at the main road leading to King Gyanendra's residence, the Narayanhity Royal Palace.

''This is an important day to last the king's autocracy and restore democracy in Nepal,'' Koirala told reporters.

The parties are demanding the transfer of the executive powers held by means of the king to a guidance of political parties which had members in the dissolved parliament.

The House of Representatives was dissolved in May 2002 for an election in November of that year, still it was not held.

King Gyanendra, generally on a tour of western parts of the region said last Sunday he would hand through the whole extent of governance to popular representatives after a parliamentary election.

He also said he aims at ''initiating'' the proces of holding a parliamentary election from mid-April 2005.

Political parties, however, say they anticipate no election can be held in the foreseeable that will be because the nation is fighting against a communist insurgency.

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