Kathmandu, May 11: Black flag demonstrations were organised across Nepal as part of the agitation launched by the five major political parties to protest the sacking of elected Prime Minister as they warned the peace dialogue with Maoist rebels could not succeed if they were sidelined. In the capital, amidst tight security, more than 1,000 people marched through the streets carrying symbolic black flags, anti-monarchy placards and burnt effigies at Ratnapark.

Similar protests, including torch light demonstrations, road blockades and sit-ins, were staged in major cities across the country yesterday. "The peace process cannot conclude successfully by sidelining the political parties," Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat said addressing the Nepal human rights organisation here.

"The government should seek cooperation from all sides in order to achieve lasting peace," he said. Meanwhile, expressing satisfaction at the outcome of second round of talks with Maoists, government negotiator Narayan Singh Pun criticised the political parties for their ongoing agitation during the dialogue saying they were only aiming for power.

"After second round of talks we have found many grounds for reaching an understanding with the Maoists on political issues," he said.

The campaign is being supported by five parties - the Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist Leninist (NCP-UML), Nepali Congress (NC), Nepal peasants and workers party, People Front-Nepal (PF-N) and a factional group of the Nepal Goodwill Party (NGP). Bureau Report