KATHMANDU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal), in its Sunday press release, called on all parties in the country to exercise restraint and to establish a dialogue to address the underlying issues in Terai.

    OHCHR-Nepal said that it is afraid that "the current tensions in southern Nepal plains, and the lack of dialogue present a grave risk to human rights."

    It called on demonstration organizers, and all parties and people joining the protests, to exercise restraint, saying that restoring law and order is essential to bring about calm and must be done with full respect for human rights.

    OHCHR-Nepal claimed to recognize "the very difficult situation faced by police, but called on police to fulfill their responsibility to maintain law and order, using only the minimum necessary force in their duties."

    It appealed to investigations into all killings and injuries which have occurred to determine those responsible. "It is essential that those responsible for the violence should also be held fully accountable in accordance with the law."

    OHCHR-Nepal estimates that since violence flared in Nepalgunj, 320 km west of the capital, in late December, at least seven people have lost their lives, six of them in the past week, and scores have been injured, including several police.