United Nations human rights investigators have called on Nepal's King Gyanendra to restore democracy and the rule of law in the country.
The appeal by nine U.N. experts came one week after the monarch dissolved the constitutional government, seized dictatorial powers, and declared a nationwide state of emergency. The nine also expressed concern over a reported wave of arrests and detentions, saying steps should be taken to reinstall democratic institutions and to protect the rights of all Nepalese citizens.
The king and his new hand-picked government curtailed most civil rights, including criticism of security forces, and banned protest rallies. Nepal's human rights groups say they plan to defy the ban by holding a protest demonstration on Thursday.