Nepal's king on Sunday appealed for peace and unity in a New Year message to his nation, three days after 112 people were killed in an increasingly bloody communist revolt to topple him.
"All Nepalese... must...unite in widening the base of mutual confidence and understanding through democratic exercise," King Gyanendra said in a message marking Nepal's new year.
"Continued violence and destruction of development infrastructure in the country has left our economy in shambles."
The country is under emergency rule as the government is trying to crush Maoist rebels seeking to create a one-party communist state and who control about a quarter of the country.
At least 112 people died in on Thursday, many of them policemen forced to strip before being beheaded.
And on Saturday, four people were taken from their homes and executed by a group of 50 people. Although no-one has claimed responsibility, officials blamed Maoist guerrillas.
The rebellion has wrecked Nepal's economy -- four per cent of which comes from foreign tourism -- and forced the government to divert vital money away from development.
More than 3,500 people have been killed, about 1,500 of them since the rebels walked away from peace talks in November.
His message was broadcast across the nation on television and radio on Sunday and published in newspapers.
Bureau Report
