Polls date fails to break deadlock in Nepal

Gyanendra announced the parliamentary elections last Wednesday during a key religious festival in the world's only Hindu kingdom after a month of street protests by the parties over his decision to sack the government in February and seize absolute power.

The king accused the government of failing to tackle a Maoist rebellion that has killed more than 12,000 people since 1996,

But political parties have rejected the unilateral announcement, seen as an attempt to deflect international pressure to restore democracy and blunt a unilateral three-month ceasefire by Maoist rebels in early September.

And some doubt that the king intends to return democracy to his people.

"The seven-party alliance will not participate in any kind of election, whether it's municipal or parliamentary, unless the king is sincere about resolving the crisis," acting president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Gopal Man Shrestha said.