Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - King Gyanendra has announced that "power may return to the people" and he has called on the seven opposition parties to choose a new prime minister. "The executive powers of the Kingdom of Nepal return to the people as from today," he said in a speech on state television.

The king gave in after 16 days of shutdown and rallies, in which almost 15 people killed in clashes between protesters and the forces of order.  He had seized full powers on 1 February 2005, justifying the decision by citing the need to stop the revolt of Maoist rebels that has claimed around 13,000 victims since 1996.