The international community including the United Nations (UN) has welcomed the Nepali King's proclamation to hand over powers to the people, the Nepali National News Agency, RSS reported Saturday.

Issuing a statement, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean Mccormack said that the United States was pleased that the King's proclamation made clear that sovereignty resides with the people.

The United States urged the Nepali parties to respond quickly by choosing a prime minister and a cabinet.

The people of Nepal deserve a democratic government that can return stability and peace to their country. "We urge all sides to refrain from violence to allow the restoration of democracy to take place swiftly and peacefully," it stated.

Likewise, Britain welcomed the proclamation by the King to transfer all executive powers to the seven-party alliance under a prime minister of their choice.

"This will be a tribute to the Nepali people's desire for democracy and peace and Britain wants to see political parties in Nepal work constructively together to set up a government," Foreign Officer Minister Kim Howells said in a statement on Friday.

The United Kingdom has also expressed the readiness to help the new government meet the challenges to peace, democracy and development in Nepal.

According to RSS, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also welcomed King's decision to restore multiparty democracy in the country and the affirmation that executive power will be returned to the people.

The UN chief hoped that the proclamation will result in the speedy restoration of democratic order, an end to the conflict and the establishment of lasting peace through an inclusive process of dialogue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China, as a friendly neighboring country, hopes Nepal can recover peace and stability as soon as possible, the RSS reported.

Source: Xinhua