Wednesday marks the 100-day anniversary of King Gyanendra's seizure of absolute power in Nepal -- the deadline Western diplomats say he set for himself to restore democratic institutions there.
The anniversary coincides with a three-day visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca to the Himalayan kingdom.
During talks with government officials and opposition leaders Tuesday, Ms. Rocca expressed Washington's concern about continuing repression of civil liberties in Nepal despite the lifting of the state of emergency last month.
King Gyanendra seized power and suspended civil liberties on February first, saying the government had failed to quell a nine-year communist insurgency that has killed more than 11,500 people.
Monday night, the Maoist rebels raided three police posts in eastern Nepal, sparking clashes that left 32 rebels, three policemen and a soldier dead.
The anniversary coincides with a three-day visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca to the Himalayan kingdom.
During talks with government officials and opposition leaders Tuesday, Ms. Rocca expressed Washington's concern about continuing repression of civil liberties in Nepal despite the lifting of the state of emergency last month.
King Gyanendra seized power and suspended civil liberties on February first, saying the government had failed to quell a nine-year communist insurgency that has killed more than 11,500 people.
Monday night, the Maoist rebels raided three police posts in eastern Nepal, sparking clashes that left 32 rebels, three policemen and a soldier dead.