Nepal announces local elections for February 8

Nepal will hold municipal elections on February 8 next year, 12 months after King Gyanendra seized power, state-run radio said. The elections will cover towns and villages in each of Nepal's 58 administrative districts, including the capital Kathmandu, meeting a pledge by Gyanendra to restore civilian rule, state-run radio said.
The king sacked a four-party government in February because of its failure to stem a Maoist rebellion that has claimed more than 12,000 lives since 1996. The last election for local offices was held in 1997.