# No takers for Nepal King's poll call

CNN-IBN
ROYAL CHALLENGE: Gyanendra's call for polls has not cut ice with anti-democracy protestors.

Kathmandu: King Gyanendra has made his call for elections in the Himalayan Kingdom - but is anyone in Nepal listening?

Going by how pro-democracy activists continued with their demonstrations on Friday, well after King's announcement, it seemed no one was impressed with what is being seen as a mere lip-service.

Fresh pro-democracy protests broke out in the valley on Friday and protesting activists said the King had offered nothing new or substantive.

The arrests in the Valley also continued and the riot police arrested nearly 20 demonstrators on Friday.

Scattered protests continued through the day, but were not as intense as in previous days as Friday was the Nepali Hindu New Year day - a holiday.

On Thursday night, the embattled King called for general elections in the Himalayan Kingdom, after a week of heightened civil unrest.

However, Gyandendra gave no firm dates and did not appear to go beyond previous promises to resolve a raging campaign against his rule.

The 58-year-old monarch also made no reference to the mass campaign against his rule, which has brought the impoverished country, wedged between India and China, to a standstill since it began on April 6.

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