The UN is the latest international agency to voice concern at the free media curbs imposed by Nepal's King Gyanendra, saying it indicated things were worsening in the Himalayan kingdom and could jeopardise fair polls.

"The new curbs on media rights contained in this ordinance would indicate that the situation is getting worse," Koichiro Matsuura, director-general of the Unesco, said Monday in a statement.

"All these acts represent attacks on the independence of the media, and therefore, on democratic progress.

"At a time when the planning of democratic elections has been announced in Nepal, legislation that justifies censorship and curtails the ability of media professionals to do their job can only appear to be incompatible with a free and open electoral process."

The UN envoy was referrimg to a controversial ordinance passed by Gyanendra earlier this month to regulate the media.

The revisions forbid any criticism of the king or the royal family and publishing any news that might be interpreted as against the national interest or promoting terrorist activities.

It prevents a single company from operating print, TV and FM radio agencies though the state itself continues to run all three.

It also prevents FM radio stations from airing news though the issue is currently being heard by the Supreme Court.

Nepal's journalists have vowed to fight the ordinance in the courts and on the street. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the largest independent press body in the kingdom, said it would challenge the order in the Supreme Court with the aid of two lawyers' organisations, Nepal Bar Association and Supreme Court Bar Association.

"We are also hitting the streets with rallies to tell people about the malafide intention of the government in formulating the ordinance," said Shiva Gaunle, vice-president of FNJ.

The first rally will be flagged here Friday followed by marches nationwide.

"Nearly 95 percent of the media condemns the ordinance and wants the government to take it back," Gaunle said.

"We are beginning a campaign that will see the space for editorials being used to criticise the ordinance. It is unconstitutional since it goes against the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution."

Gaunle said the opposition could trigger ruthless retaliation from the government that is governed by a single man - the king who seized power through a coup in February and has no parliament to keep him in check.

"Hundreds of our members have been arrested and are behind bars," he said.

"However, we are not fighting for press freedom only, we are fighting for people's freedom and rights. The press is a way of expressing ourselves, a right guaranteed by the constitution."