Nepal's Maoist rebels called for a three-day nation-wide general strike from tomorrow to protest against King Gyanendra's decision to sack the government and assume power, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported.
It was the first reaction from the rebels after the king today fired Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, declared a state of emergency and assumed power for the next three years saying the political leadership had failed to hold polls or restore peace amid an increasingly violent Maoist insurgency.
Maoist rebels chief Prachanda, who uses only one name, said Gyanendra's moves smacked of "medieval feudal autocracy", the Indian news agency said quoting a statement from the rebel group in Nepali capital Kathmandu.
The Maoists were ready to work with "all pro-people forces and all those who are against feudal autocracy" to oppose the king's actions, PTI quoted Prachanda as saying.
"By discussing with pro-people forces in the days to come, the resistance (against the king's proclamations) will be heightened," Prachanda said.
The Maoists have been fighting since 1996 to topple Nepal's constitutional monarchy and establish communist rule in one of the world's poorest countries.
About 11,000 people have been killed so far in the revolt that has wrecked the Himalayan kingdom.