KATMANDU, Nepal — Elation and relief surged through the streets here Tuesday as the people of this Himalayan nation embraced the prospect of a return to democratic government and savored the defeat of the king who abrogated it.
But a note of warning tempered the festive mood when Maoist rebels, instigators of a decade-long insurgency that has cost about 13,000 lives, rejected King Gyanendra's offer to reinstate parliament and accused the political opposition of betrayal in accepting the deal. Some protesters also continued to call for a complete overthrow of Nepal's centuries-old monarchy.
Daily demonstrations against Gyanendra's absolute rule have paralyzed the country for nearly three weeks and resulted in at least a dozen deaths during clashes between protesters and police. On Tuesday, thousands of Nepalis took to the streets again, but this time it was to declare a victory for people power and hail the restoration of parliament after its royal dissolution in 2002.
"We wanted democracy and democracy has been returned. That's why we're happy," said student Barsha Khanal, 19, as she walked amid a river of red flags representing various political parties, held aloft by cheering marchers.
Residents also welcomed the return of a semblance of normality, glad for the chance to go back to their jobs, shop for food and simply venture outside after the end of a general strike and official curfews that caused additional hardship for many in this poverty-racked land. Prices of some staple goods have risen. Residents have hoarded food and found creative ways to conserve precious kerosene for cooking.
"There was no business at all for 19 days," said shopkeeper Jagat Bahadur Manandhar, 46. "I was stuck inside and only saw the outside world through the windows. This is near the palace" -- where police and soldiers had been out in force -- "so it wasn't safe to go out."
A complete return to calm may be hampered by a threat from the Maoists, who control vast swaths of the countryside, to blockade Katmandu, the capital, to show their opposition to the acceptance of Gyanendra's concessions.
Rebel leaders were particularly angry that the king did not call for the creation of a special "constituent assembly" to revamp the constitution, which the Maoists hope would write the monarchy out of existence. The insurgents signed an accord with the seven-party opposition alliance last fall in which they agreed to back the peaceful pro-democracy movement as long as a special assembly was convened.
