Nepali King Gyanendra has called upon major political parties in the country to work towards protecting democracy from terrorism.

"We have always held discussions with all in the interests of the country and people and the trend will continue in the future as well," Radio Nepal quoted King Gyanendra's national speech as saying Saturday.

In his first speech since he took over of state power on Feb.1, which was organized by the Tribhuvan University here Friday evening, the king called upon all the political parties who had faith on democracy to take up their responsibility to protect democracy from terrorism, to control corruption and stop misuse of taxpayers' money and hold elections.

While saying that violence was not the way to reach into consensus, he said there is a need of common commitment and involvement of all the political parties in order to provide stability to the law and order that is being restored in the country.

He defended his takeover of state power on Feb. 1 by saying that he was compelled to take the move in order to save democracy from terrorism and rescue the country that was sliding down towards destruction.

He also expressed his commitment to holding all the elections that were due for the last three years including holding the municipal elections within a year.

Source: Xinhua