"We ask the Maoists once again to come to the negotiation table and help to solve the present political crisis," said Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi, one of the 10-member pro-royalist cabinet sworn in Wednesday.

"If the Maoists do not come forward, we may have to think of alternate steps," Shahi said in comments aired on state television.

Shahi did not elaborate on what action the government might take against the rebels, who have been waging an increasingly deadly nine-year campaign to topple the monarchy and set up a communist republic.

In a move that has drawn worldwide condemnation, Gyanendra on Tuesday sacked a government he installed last June, saying it had not held elections and had failed to quell the revolt which has claimed 11,000 lives.

The rebels had refused to hold talks with the previous government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, arguing that as it had been appointed rather than elected, only the king wielded executive power.

The new home minister said the rebels should now be able to come to the negotiating table, "since the present government is constituted under the chairmanship of King Gyanendra and the government represents the king who holds sovereign authority and executive power."

There was no immediate rebel response to the ultimatum. But after the king's seizure of power, Maoist leader Prachanda denounced the monarch as a "national betrayer" and called on "the entire pro-people forces of the world to raise their voices against this autocratic step."

Prachanda, or "the fierce one", said the rebels were prepared to take part in "a broad (political) front with all that are against feudal autocracy."

The rebels have been demanding elections for a constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution aimed at establishing a communist state. Two sets of previous peace talks have collapsed over the monarch's future role.

The government's call came as telephone and mobile links and the Internet remained cut, a move seen aimed at stifling dissent following the imposition of emergency rule suspending free speech, assembly and other rights.

The monarch, vaulted to the throne four years ago by a palace massacre that wiped out most of the royal family, pledged to "restore democracy and law and order in the country in the next three years."

Scores of political leaders, party and human rights activists and union leaders were under arrest. Political activity had gone underground.