King's power grab a big gamble: Analysts

If he succeeds, the status of the monarchy will be reinforced to the detriment of democracy; his failure could lead to the ancient monarchy's collapse, they say.

King Gyanendra fired the government on Tuesday, assumed all powers and declared a state of emergency, citing the previous administration's failure to bring peace to a country gripped by civil war since 1996.

The conflict has killed more than 11,000 people and ravaged a population that has suffered at the hands of rebels and government troops alike.

War-weary, ordinary Nepalis interviewed in the capital Kathm-andu said that if they had to choose between peace and democracy, for which many have been pressing, they would choose peace.

"The population has been victimised, people are less concerned with politics. They want first peace should prevail," said a pro-mona-rchy analyst.

The government that King Gyanendra sacked has come in for much criticism, like every administration in place since the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in 1990 when several political parties were allowed to operate.

"All the governments have collapsed, all the parties quarrel, corruption has become institutionalised," said an official with a human rights group.

"Nepalese cannot believe in democracy," he said.

In the king's favour is that the Maoists have for months been demanding direct negotiations with him, saying he has always been the sole source of power.

Their demand is ironic since the Maoists, split by hardline and moderate factions, are fighting for a communist republic to replace the monarchy. But King Gyanendra's place at the head of the new government that he has appointed could lead the way to such talks.