Kathmandu, Feb. 13 -- Hundreds of pro-monarchists on Friday converged on the streets of Kathmandu, welcoming former King Gyanendra Shah in a show of power ahead of the parliamentary elections to be held on March 5.

The former King was welcomed by supporters from the right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and pro-monarchy organisations, who chanted slogans against the existing political system.

"In the current context, the attempt to hold the election and we, the pro-monarchists, hitting the street is a clash between the two sides. One wants to save the nation, while the other wants to destabilise the nation further.

The existing government is being meddled with by foreign hands, and we are the ones who have come to the street to s...