Thousands of Nepalese Saturday protested against King Gyanendra in the Indian capital, demanding the restoration of multi-party democracy in the restive Himalayan kingdom. The protestors carried placards and red flags and chanted slogans for the restoration of democratic rights in Nepal. "It's a do or die situation," said Sujata Koirala, daughter of Nepali Congress party president G.P. Koirala. "Either we will win or he (the king) will win."

She said Congress "saved" the institution of monarchy for 60 years, "but now we are changing our minds. People have lost their confidence in the king. Nobody wants monarchy anymore."

Koirala, who said she escaped to India on a motorcycle, and other Nepalese leaders demanded the forming of a constituent assembly and fresh elections.

They said they were looking to India for help.

"There is no hope in Nepal. We need the help of India, the United States and other countries," Koirala said, while urging New Delhi to stop all military aid to Nepal.

India has been supplying arms and helicopters to Nepal to fight the raging Maoist insurgency but Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said last week that there was "no contract" with Nepal for regular supply of arms.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005