Once again, Nepal's royal palace is at the centre of a political storm.
Both the Maoist former rebels and moderate Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala accuse King Gyanendra of trying to destabilise the country.
On Monday, Mr Koirala said: 'The king should have stepped down long ago. However, there is still ample time. He should abdicate as per the wishes of the people.'
The country, he warned, would become a republic following elections due in June.
But the 85-year-old premier offered a sliver of hope to royalists. He hinted that if the king stood down in favour of his four-year-old grandson, the monarchy could survive.
Intervention by the Maoists has been even more striking. Their party entered a peace process after massive street protests forced the king to end autocratic rule last year. They are represented in the interim parliament and could soon join the government. Last week the former guerilla leader Prachanda claimed the palace was plotting to assassinate US diplomats and pin the blame on him.
The US ambassador, a regular critic of the Maoists, was swift to demand they provide evidence to refrain from making 'irresponsible and dangerous' claims.
