After a three-month gap, India on Tuesday announced partial resumption of defence supplies to Nepal and hoped 'further and early' steps would be taken towards the restoration of multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy in the Himalayan kingdom.

"With the lifting of emergency in Nepal on April 29, 2005 and the release of several political party leaders and activists, the government of India has decided to release some of the supplies currently in the pipeline, including vehicles," an External Affairs ministry spokesman said.

India had suspended military supplies to Nepal following King Gyanendra's decision on February 1 to sack the Sher Bahadur Deuba government, declare emergency, detain political leaders and impose press censorship.   

"It is our expectation that in the coming days, His Majesty's government of Nepal will take further and early steps towards the restoration of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy, which remain in our view, the two pillars of political stability, and meet the challenges of the Maoists," the spokesman said.

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New Delhi's decision was conveyed to the king in Kathmandu on Monday when Indian Ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee called on him.

While keeping the issue of defence supplies 'under constant review', India had asked the king to lift emergency, end media censorship and release all political party leaders and activists.

New Delhi had also advised King Gyanendra to bring the political parties and the institution of monarchy together in a broad national effort to deal with the political and economic challenges confronting Nepal.

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The spokesman said the king had indicated in meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh in Jakarta last month his intention to take steps towards these objectives.

In this context, the prime minister had agreed to consider the issue of defence supplies to Nepal in the 'proper perspective'.

But the subsequent re-arrest of Deuba prompted India to remark that such actions were contrary to the assurances given by the king.

Mukherjee, who was called to New Delhi for consultations, returned to Kathmandu last Saturday after meetings with Natwar Singh, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and senior officials.

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