KATHMANDU: Nepal's army chief has pledged to uphold human rights as security forces seek to crush a Maoist revolt following King Gyanendra's seizure of power, state media reported on Wednesday.

The army leader's assurances came amidst mounting international concern over potential rights abuses in the wake of the king's dismissal of the government and declaration of emergency rule suspending civil liberties, including press freedom, 16 days ago.

"Necessary action has been taken against those involved in violation of human rights regardless of their rank and will continue," General Pyar Jung Thapa said, according to the state-run RSS media.

"Regular instruction on human rights is given to the Royal Nepal Army commanders at every level," he told a representative of London-based Amnesty International on Tuesday, the agency said.

The army chief's statements came in the midst of a Maoist blockade of the capital, Kathmandu, launched over the weekend to protest the king's take over. No comment was immediately available from Amnesty on the meeting. But it said beforehand the picture in Nepal was "one of heightened uncertainty, insecurity and fear." Rights activists say press censorship preventing public scrutiny of the army's actions has put Nepalis at greater risk of abuses.

In the capital, the king's emergency rule order has managed to prevent any anti-royal street protests that were regular features in past months as the kingdom descended into political turmoil, and schools and businesses were open. But the transport blockade, enforced by threats of rebel violence rather than a physical show of force, had slowed traffic entering and leaving Kathmandu to a trickle and sent vegetable prices soaring.

"Prices of most vegetables have increased significantly," said an official at Kathmandu's Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Committee. Analysts say the 80,000-strong army is ill-equipped to counter the Maoists who hide out in rugged mountain terrain and dense forests from which they can stage deadly hit-and-run attacks on security posts.

The king has sought talks with the Maoists but has also said "any nefarious attempts at disturbing peace and security" will not be tolerated. India, the United States and Britain, which have recalled their ambassadors for consultations, have not said whether they will keep supplying arms to Nepal to help it end the revolt. But analysts say the king is gambling they will continue their support through fear of a Maoist take over.

Maoist leader Prachanda, or the "Fierce One," has said the rebels are waging "the final battle against the autocratic regime" and that "nobody can now prevent the dawn of a new republic."

In an apparent bid to mollify world opinion, the government freed from house arrest former premier Surya Bahadur Thapa and a top Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist and Leninist leader, Khadga Prasad Oli, earlier this week. -AFP