New Nepal govt eases media curbs

The king, who last month bowed to weeks of mass protests and handed power back to political parties, had curbed civil rights and media freedom after he grabbed power, accusing political parties of failing to quell a bloody Maoist revolt.

Journalists were given longer prison terms for criticising the king and a ten-fold increase in fines for defamation, steps that were condemned by international media watchdogs.

The royalist government had also restricted independent radio stations from broadcasting news, giving a monopoly to state radio bulletins.

"We have scrapped some objectionable ordinances," Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

He did not give details but media reports said they included decrees restricting press freedom and imposing controls on non-governmental organisations.

The king handed power back to political parties after weeks of protests in which at least 17 people were killed and thousands wounded.

The new government has reversed some royal appointments and ordered ambassadors to 10 countries to return home.

Earlier on Tuesday, a United Nations official met Nepal's new Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and offered to help with the Himalayan kingdom's efforts to end the decade-old Maoist insurgency in which thousands have died.