The appeal by Koirala, who served four times as premier of the Himalayan nation, was the first call for demonstrations by a mainstream politician since Gyanendra dismissed Sher Bahadur Deuba and his government Tuesday, saying it had failed to crush a Maoist revolt and hold elections.

"I call upon all the pro-democratic journalists, political workers, youths and students and Nepalese brothers and sisters to oppose this unconstitutional step of the king," Koirala said.

"I call upon them to take to the streets to restore the sovereign power of the people and safeguard the constitution of 1990," he said in a statement in Nepali that was given to AFP by a party worker known to the news agency.

In 1990, seven weeks of demonstrations and riots forced the king's late brother Birendra to bow to demands from democracy activists and led to the establishment of parliamentary government.

Koirala, who is under house arrest, called Gyanendra's seizure of power and declaration of emergency rule "a flagrant violation of the agreement reached in 1990 between late King Birendra and the Nepalese people."

Birendra was slain in a palace massacre four years ago by a drunk-and-drug fuelled prince that vaulted Gyanendra to power.

Koirala's appeal came after the kingdom's army chief said security forces battling Maoist rebels would be told to uphold human rights but warned that guerrillas face tough action if they refuse Gyanendra's offer of peace talks.

Security forces should not "harbour any illusions about... having unlimited powers during the state of emergency," army chief of staff General Pyar Jung Thapa said after international right groups voiced fears of abuses.

The groups, who have accused both sides of atrocities, are concerned the army may use emergency rule and the muzzling of the media to try to brutally suppress the nine-year-old revolt.

At the same time, Thapa warned the army would pursue "a more vigorous offensive... if the Maoists neglect the (talks') call of his maj esty."

More on International Page