``His Majesty the king has... on the recommendation of the prime minister, dissolved the House of Representatives,'' a royal palace statement read on state radio said.

Koirala, head of the Centrist Nepali Congress Party, earlier met King Birendra at his royal palace and handed the monarch his recommendation to dissolve parliament, which was approved by the cabinet yesterday.

The king asked Koirala to continue in office as a caretaker prime minister until a new council of ministers is constituted.

The statement said that the monarch hoped Koirala would hold the elections, which will come some six months ahead of schedule, in a ``peaceful, free and impartial'' manner.

Koirala won a vote of confidence in parliament yesterday with coalition support from the country's main CommunistParty which offered backing on the promise that fresh elections be held.