[JURIST] Amnesty International [official website] said Thursday that the recent imposition of emergency rule in Nepal by King Gyanendra [BBC profile] has taken the country to the "brink of disaster" and that the human rights crisis in the country could turn into a "catastrophe". The Nepalese government has disputed the AI statement, claiming the state of emergency [JURIST report] was necessary to combat the Maoist insurgency and create political stability. Amnesty head Irene Khan is urging donor nations to suspend military aid to the country, and also called on the Maoist rebels to respect international human rights laws and to stop targeting civilians. The new royal government is already facing international pressure as India, Britain, and the United States have all recalled their ambassadors. Read the Amnesty press release detailing its demands of the Nepalese government. AP has more.