Nepal's political parties, protesting the royal takeover, have announced a fresh agitation programme beginning Sunday to restore democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom.

The alliance of the seven political parties in a joint statement on Friday announced that they would hold protest meetings on May 15, 22, 27 and June 3 demanding reinstatement of the House of Representatives.

The parties also published a code of conduct for the agitation, which they said would be non-violent and not end unless their objectives are fulfilled.

However, they rejected an offer from Maoists for a joint alliance to challenge the King's rule.

"Our movement for restoration of complete democracy will be peaceful one and there is no possibility of having an alliance with the Maoists unless they denounce violent means," Communist Party of Nepal spokesman Pradip Nepal said.

Nepali Congress (Democratic) spokesman Minendra Rijal said, "We don't believe the Maoists' philosophy can solve the current problem."

The seven political parties include Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, NC (Democratic), Nepal Sadbhavana Party (A), People's Front Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and the United Left Front.

Earlier reacting to claims by the government that the first 100 days of the King's rule were 'remarkable', the political parties said on the contrary they were 'a total failure with record human rights violations'.

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