Nepal ? Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered the royalist government Friday to release 37 political detainees who opposed the king’s rule, while communist insurgents freed two abducted officials amid an army offensive in the southwest.

The freed politicians called the court’s ruling “a victory for democracy” and pledged to intensify their campaign against King Gyanendra, who seized power in February 2005.

Judges ruled they did not find any reason for the detentions and ordered the government to immediately free the prisoners.

The detainees freed Friday included senior members of the seven political parties that have formed an alliance to press for democracy.