By Sushil Sharma
BBC News, Kathmandu
There have been a number of protests in Kathmandu
They were protesting against his February take-over of the government.
They are the biggest protests since the king declared a state of emergency and suspended civil rights.
The king said the move was needed to combat Nepal's Maoist rebels who want to replace the monarchy with a communist republic.
Baton charges
Opposition parties say that about 100 people were arrested in the capital, Kathmandu, and that many others were taken into custody in other parts of the country.
The figures could not be independently verified.
The king assumed direct control on 1 February
There have been no comments yet from the authorities, who in the past have played down opposition claims.
The Kathmandu demonstrators shouted slogans calling for the restoration of democracy.
Police baton-charged demonstrators in some parts of the country.
Friday has a symbolic importance for the political parties. It was on this day in 1990 that joint opposition protests forced the-then king to establish multi-party democracy after 30 years of direct rule.
The opposition has once again come together following the royal assumption of direct powers on 1 February.
Opposition members have been holding protests at the royal move since then, despite rallies now being illegal.
The king said that he assumed direct powers because the parties failed to tackle the long-running Maoist insurgency.
Hundreds of opposition leaders and activists were arrested after 1 February.
About 300, including some top leaders, were freed last week.
The political parties have dubbed the royal move undemocratic and unconstitutional.
'''April 8, 2005'''


More than 500 activists, journalists, lawyers and students were arrested Friday in Nepal, whilst protesting against King Gyanendra's take-over of the country's government. Human rights groups have now called for a UN investigation into alleged abuses of civil liberties after King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency at the start of February.

"We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," Nicolas Howen, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists, said. "The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisations and the media are still intimidated and controlled." 

The state of emergency was initiated to properly tackle Nepal's Maoist rebels who, according to King Gyanendra, seek to replace the monarchy with a communist republic. Fears are now growing that violence in the country will continue to increase and insurgency in Nepal has claimed the lives of at least 11,000 people since 1996. Arjun Karki, president of the Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Nepal said today: "If they are suppressed, those who support democracy are forced to use other means. So those who repress democracy should really consider their actions first."

Elsewhere in Nepal today, soldiers repelled a rebel assault on one of their bases in the country's northwest, say reports.