AS REPORTED BY GULF NEWS

- Nepal’s King Gyanendra, facing sweeping anti-monarchy protests, said he was restoring political power to the people, but the country’s largest party said that was not enough. “Executive power of the kingdom of Nepal, which was in our safekeeping, shall from this day be returned to the people,” King Gyanendra said in an address to the nation in the Nepalese language. “We ask the seven-party alliance to recommend the name for the post of prime minister at the earliest for the constitution of a council of ministers, which will bear the responsibility of governing the country in accordance with the constitution.” India welcomed the announcement. The European Union also welcomed the king’s pledge to hand over power.