KATHMANDU, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's former top officials pointed out on Sunday there is a need to seek a political way out of the present adverse situation, urging anti-government guerrillas to give up arms and join the political mainstream through peaceful means.

    Speaking at the face-to-face program organized by Reporters' Club Nepal, former Foreign Minister Sailendra Kumar Upadhyaya said that as the Nepali people want peace, a national consensus should be maintained by restructuring the state governance and including the guerrillas as well.

    Former Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Yadav Kanta Silwal said that the seven political parties should move forward to give a political way out with a clear agenda.

    Other speakers at the program expressed the view that the constitutional forces should find the right solution to the existing problem by accepting the people as the supreme.

    Nepali King Gyanendra, who took full powers in February 2005, announced Friday that he would give up political power to the people and asked the seven-party alliance to name a new prime minister.

    As demonstrations against the Friday's royal proclamation continued across the country for the third day Sunday, the authorities has imposed day-time curfew and tightened security in the capital Kathmandu.

    Meanwhile, the general strike called by the seven-parties alliance has hit the normal life of people hard across Nepal.

    A total halt in business and trade activities along with the disruption of transportation services since April 6 has made life difficult.

    No vehicles plied on the roads and bazaar remained closed Sunday, the 18th consecutive day of the general strike. Enditem