The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday called for Chinese citizens in Nepal to take additional care with their personal safety given the unstable security situation in the region. It also advised against traveling to Nepal unless there was a special reason. 

The ministry requested citizens contact the Chinese Embassy in Nepal in case of emergency. The telephone number is 009771-4411740 and the cell phone numbers are 00977-9851071666, 9851071888, 9851050930, 9851034088.

The China National Tourism Administration also urged Chinese citizens not to  travel to Nepal.

Nepali King Gyanendra announced Friday that he would give political power to the people and asked the current seven-party alliance to name a new prime minister.

The proclamation came after two weeks of a national general strike which was announced by the seven opposition political parties and resulted in a curfew being placed on the capital, Kathmandu, by the government.

Following the King's announcement the government declared they would extend the curfew.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2006)