(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-07 17:52

KATHMANDU - Nepali King Gyanendra, in an interview with foreign reporters, expressed dissatisfaction over the recent decision by the Interim Parliament to abolish monarchy after the April 10 Constituent Assembly election.

Nepal's King Gyanendra gestures during a reception held to mark the third day of his birthday celebrations in Kathmandu in this file photo taken July 8, 2007.  [Agencies]

Speaking to a select group of Japanese correspondents at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace on February 4, King Gyanendra said, "(The decision) doesn't reflect the majority view of the people. This isn't democracy."

He, however, conceded that the people do have the right to choose the fate of monarchy, local leading media group's website Nepalnews.com reported Thursday.

The interview was published in Japan's leading newspaper Daily Yomiuri.

The king also said the law and order situation of the country is deteriorating, questioning the Interim Government's ability to govern the country.

Citing the recent survey which showed 49 percent of respondents favored the continuation of the monarchy in some form, King Gyanendra said, "A majority of the people find great meaning in the institution of the monarchy. In all clouds, there is a silver lining. Let us hope."

About a week ago King Gyanendra had broke his closely guarded silence in an interview with a Nepali pro-monarchist weekly paper in which he said he remained silent to "let the peace process succeed."

The King said, "Nepali people themselves should speak out on where the nation is heading, on the direction it is taking and on why it is becoming chaotic."

The seven Nepali political parties and CPN-M in April 2006 launched "the People's Movement" to end the direct rule of King Gyanendra. Then the Seven-party Alliance government was formed and signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) in November 2006, ending the decade-long CPN-M insurgency.

On January 15, 2007, the Interim Parliament was set up with CPN-M included, and on April, 1, 2007, the Interim Government joined by CPN-M was formed.

On December 28, 2007, the Nepali Interim Parliament approved a bill for the amendment to the Interim Constitution promulgated on January 15, 2007, with clause reading Nepal will turn into a federal democratic republic, which is to be implemented by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.