NEPAL: The Nepalese political crisis was triggered on February 1st, 2005, when King Gyanendra sacked the government, declared a state of emergency and assumed absolute power himself. He said the move was needed to crush a Maoist revolt that had killed more than 13,000 people since 1996.
In September, Nepal's largest political party, the Nepali Congress, dropped a 60-year-old written pledge to uphold the constitutional monarchy. The same month the Maoists announced a unilateral ceasefire, which the government refused to match. The truce was called off four months later.
In November, the Maoists, who want to topple the monarchy and set up a single-party communist republic, entered into a loose alliance with the seven main political parties to try to end the king's absolute powers.
The Maoists pledged an eventual return to the political mainstream.
Last February the royalist government held local elections, but turnout was low and the polls were condemned by the United Nations.
Later that month, the king offered the political parties talks on reinstating democratic institutions but the overture was rejected.
A general strike began on April 6th and pro-democracy protests became a regular feature, despite curfews. Many turned into fierce clashes with security forces - at least 12 people were killed and hundreds wounded.
On April 21st, King Gyanendra said he was handing over political power to the people and asked the seven-party alliance to choose a new prime minister. The parties said this was not enough.
Yesterday, the king said in a television address that he was reconvening parliament on Friday.
He made no direct mention of elections to a constituent assembly as demanded by protesters and Maoist rebels, but said his proclamation was being made "according to the road map of the agitating political parties".