[JURIST] Krishna Sitaula, leader of the opposition Nepali Congress [party website], was arrested at his home on Wednesday, just two days after he was released from prison [Rising Nepal report], along with several other opposition politicians, according to an order [JURIST report] from the Supreme Court of Nepal [official website]. The government gave no reason for the arrest and members of Sitaula's family have said that they have been told that he will be held for three months.

Sitaula's arrest comes just days after King Gyanendra [official profile; BBC profile], who dismissed the elected government and assumed power [JURIST report] last February, called on mainstream political opposition parties to enter into talks to promote democracy. The Nepalese government has arrested hundreds of politicians and activists over the past few weeks in a crackdown on protesters calling for Gyanendra's removal from power [JURIST report]. Human rights activists on Wednesday demanded [Nepal News report] that the government release the detained political leaders. BBC News has more. eKantipur.com has local coverage.