UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed on Monday the Nepalese government's decision to lift the state of emergency over the weekend, and to free in the last few weeks several political party leaders and activists.

"These were measures the secretary-general had urged during his meeting with King Gyanendra" on April 21 in Jakarta, Indonesia, a UN spokesman said in New York.

"He (Annan) urges the release of all those still detained under the emergency provisions as well as the early restoration of civil liberties and multi-party democracy in Nepal," Stephane Dujarric said.

Annan remained ready to assist in any manner that would lead to the peaceful resolution of the conflict between the Nepalese government and leftist rebels, he added.