Nepal's king orders soldiers to shoot protesters

Last Updated Sat, 08 Apr 2006 09:54:06 EDT
CBC News

Opposition parties called off an anti-monarchy rally planned in Nepal's capital on Saturday after the royal government imposed an all-day curfew and threatened to shoot on sight any violators.

IN DEPTH: Nepal

(Binod Joshi/Associated Press)

Thousands of people were expected to gather in Kathmandu to demand a return to democracy.

Instead, those planning the protest against King Gyanendra's rule were holding an emergency meeting to determine how to counter the king's latest step to end the protests against his seizure of power last year.

The rally was to be part of a four-day nationwide strike that began on Thursday.

Security forces fired on demonstrators Saturday in Pokhara, a resort town 200 kilometres west of the capital, killing one person and injuring at least two others. Protesters were throwing stones when the soldiers shot at them, witnesses said.

Pokhara was hit by widespread protests throughout Friday, with activists fighting troops who fired back with dozens of tear gas shells, according to witness reports.

The king fired the government a year ago and suspended many civil liberties after he accused politicians of failing to stop the violence between the government and Maoist rebels.

Gyanendra said he would form a new cabinet and restore peace and democracy within three years. But in recent months there have been growing calls across the country for the restoration of democracy.