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GUEST: Daniela Ponce, co-founder of www.FreeNepal.org. She had volunteered at the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies in Nepal

Hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, this morning after King Gyanendra announced a deal to end weeks of unrest. The rally was part victory celebration and part continued protest. The king announced last night that he had reinstated the parliament he dissolved 4 years ago. This was a key demand of the opposition parties that have joined in a seven-party alliance. The parties named former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, as the new head of government and said the first job would be to ensure that the Maoists, fighting a decade-long rebellion, joined the political mainstream. However, in a strong statement, the Maoist leader Prachanda, rejected the king’s move and said by welcoming the royal proclamation, the parties were making a big mistake.

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