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Nepal king releases political prisoners(UPI Top Stories Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Two leading dissidents were freed from a Nepalese prison as King Gyanendra readies for negotiations with opponents. But protests continue elsewhere in the country Wednesday as police brutally break up peaceful rallies against the monarchy. Gyanendra took control of the democratically elected government last year, accusing it of not doing enough to quell the Maoist insurgency. The Times of London reports at least two people were shot dead in Chandragadi and dozens were wounded by police. Madhav Kumar Nepal of the Communist Party of Nepal and Ram Chandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress were released after three months in prison. An envoy from India arrived in Nepal to meet with opposition forces before meting with Gyanendra in an attempt to break the stand off. Nepal's government Wednesday imposed a daylong curfew in a western city and gave security forces shoot-at-sight orders for any violation. The state-run radio announced that the curfew would be imposed in Pokhara, about 125 miles west of Kathmandu, on the 14th day of nationwide protests against the king. Violators of the curfew would be shot, the Press Trust of India reports. |