Latest Kathmandu Stories

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of anti-monarchy protesters gathered outside the city limits of the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday preparing to defy a strict curfew imposed to block a pro-democracy rally, witnesses said. Security forces have orders to shoot violators but activists said they would not be prevented from holding the rally to force King Gyanendra to restore multi-party democracy. The city of 1.5 million people was deserted except for police...

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepali police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Thursday to prevent thousands of people marching into the capital Kathmandu where a strict curfew was in force to block a pro-democracy rally, witnesses said. At least a dozen people were injured in the clash in the Kalanki suburb on the western outskirts of the city, political party officials said. At least 10,000 people had gathered there, but they retreated into bylanes after the police action,...

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Anti-monarchy protesters gathered outside the city limits of the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday where a strict curfew has been imposed to block a pro-democracy rally. Security forces have orders to shoot violators. Activists have said they will bring out hundreds of thousands on the street to force King Gyanendra to restore multi-party democracy. The city of 1.5 million people was deserted except for police and troops on patrol but about 200...

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepali police and troops patrolled deserted streets of the capital Kathmandu on Thursday as a curfew imposed to block a massive anti-monarchy protest went into effect. All roads of the city of 1.5 million were empty of traffic, residents said. Police pickets had been set up at every major intersection and troops were on patrol, they said. "I can't even see a dog on the street," said Manohar Acharya, a resident of the New Road business district....

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's royalist government imposed a strict curfew in Kathmandu and neighbouring areas on Thursday but activists vowed to go ahead with their plan to bring hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets. "Residents are urged not to come out of their premises and security forces could shoot curfew violators," a government statement said. Political party leaders said they would defy the orders. "To protest peacefully is the fundamental and natural...

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - India stepped up pressure on Nepal's King Gyanendra on Wednesday to restore democracy, sending a special envoy and its top diplomat to hold talks with the monarch to try to defuse a fortnight of crippling protests. A woman hit on the face by a tear gas shell during a protest died on Tuesday, taking the death toll in the campaign to six. Hundreds have been wounded in police action against protesters and hundreds of others arrested. The anti-monarchy...

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Anti-monarchy protesters kept up the pressure in the Nepali capital on Tuesday despite bad weather as diplomats said the movement against King Gyanendra appeared to be reaching a climax. It was the 13th day of a general strike and protest campaign launched by a seven-party political alliance which wants the king to restore multi-party democracy. Hundreds gathered in various parts of Kathmandu and attempted to start a procession, but police blocked...

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Anti-monarchy protests persisted in the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Tuesday despite bad weather as diplomats said the movement against King Gyanendra appeared to be reaching a climax. It was the 13th day of a general strike and protest campaign launched by a seven-party political alliance which wants the king to restore multi-party democracy. Hundreds of people gathered in various parts of the capital and attempted to start a procession, but were...

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Anti-monarchy protests persisted in the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Tuesday despite a steady drizzle as diplomats said the movement against King Gyanendra appeared to be reaching a climax. It was the 13th day of a general strike and protest campaign launched by a seven-party political alliance which wants the king to restore multi-party democracy. Hundreds of people gathered in various parts of the capital and attempted to take out a procession, but were prevented...

By Raju Gopalakrishnan KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepali troops opened fire on anti-monarchy protesters in an eastern town on Monday and killed one man, witnesses said, as international pressure increased on King Gyanendra to restore multi-party democracy. If confirmed, it would be the fifth person to be killed in 12 days of violent pro-democracy demonstrations that have brought the impoverished Himalayan nation to a standstill. Hundreds have been wounded. Witnesses said troops had opened...