4/25/2006: Nepal King Gyanendra made a short televised statement on Monday 4/24 conceding one of the main demands of the seven-party opposition alliance—the immediate recall of parliament, which was dissolved in May 2002. The announcement came just hours before a huge protest rally planned for Tuesday with demonstrators preparing to encircle the city center. Instead, Nepal's seven-party alliance called off protests and impromptu celebrations broke out almost immediately on the streets of Katmandu. People took to the streets of the capital in their thousands shouting "Long live democracy!" and dancing within a few hundred yards of the King's palace. Gyanendra made no direct reference to a major opposition demand for the convening of a constituent assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution. Nepal's Maoist rebels have rejected the king's move, saying that it was a conspiracy to hold on to power and have caled for protests against his rule to continue. The Maoists said in agreeing the deal with the king, the opposition had betrayed an agreement it made with them in November, which called for fresh elections and an end to an "autocratic monarchy". "The proclamation is a sham and a conspiracy against the Nepali people," Maoist leader Prachanda said in a statement in the Nepali language. "Our party firmly rejects this." The Maoist leader also called for a blockade of Kathmandu and other Nepali towns.
Part victory, part protest on Nepal streets | Tariq Ali: This is no rah-rah revolt | NPR Audio | Fall of the mountain king

4/23/2006: The seven-party alliance has decided to try to bring more than two million people along the 27-km long Ring Road on Tuesday April 25th for a massive demonstration in Nepal's capital.
Read More | Nepal's key ministers do a disappearing act | India backs Nepal opposition in blow for king | US orders Nepal staff withdrawal | Maoist rebels storm Nepalese town | Nepal protesters continue to challenge curfew

On April 20th and 21st, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Nepal's capital for a mass protests, despite a shoot-on-sight curfew. In a desperate attempt to save his throne, the king appeared on television promising to restore democracy and hold elections. "Opposition parties say the king's offer is 'too little, too late.' On the streets, people vowed to continue their rallies. 'Death to the monarchy!'they chanted as they marched. And as they walked, the people of Kathmandu lined the streets to cheer them on. This was a nation on the march. Several police lines fell back before them. Soldiers guarding the airport grinned and gave them signs of support."
Bloody end to Nepal protest | Protests continue after Nepal's opposition rejects king's offer | Protesters killed as Nepal police shoot at crowd | Nepal and Venezuela | Children Among Victims of Police Attacks | 'Shoot-to-kill' curfew in Nepal | Human rights organisations call for targeted sanctions | Democracy Now Report | Widespread protests erupt | Nepalis Say, "Ya Basta!"

Earlier Indybay Coverage Of Unrest In Nepal:
"Elections" And Violence In Nepal On Anniversary Of Royal Coup
Nepalese King Sacks And Arrests Government, Cuts Phone Service And Rounds Up Human Rights Activists