Opposition rejects king’s democracy promise

NEPALESE King Gyanendra’s vow to return multiparty democracy to his Himalayan nation after weeks of bloody protests was immediately rejected by the opposition yesterday.

Gyanandra’s proposal fell short of a key opposition demand - the creation of a special assembly to write a new constitution - and one of the main opposition parties rejected the pledge as “incomplete”.

The king’s announcement, broadcast nationwide, came hours after more than 100,000 pro-democracy protesters defied a government curfew to rally on the outskirts of Kathmandu.