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Nepal protesters ignore king's curfew(UPI Top Stories Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Police opened fire on protesters who defied a daytime curfew Saturday, streaming into Kathmandu by the tens of thousands. The Maoist movement joined the demonstrators in rejecting King Gyanendra's offer of a partial restoration of democracy, the BBC reported. The sea of people on the streets proves that the Nepali people want to get rid of the feudal regime forever, they said in a statement. Police shot and wounded at least four protesters. Many were seen bloodied and injured as police beat them away from the streets leading to King Gyanendra's palace, and tactics included the use of tear gas. Opposition groups have formed a coalition against Gyanendra -- enlisting the support of India, the European Union and the United States -- and carrying out an economy stopping strike. Fourteen protesters have been killed by police, including at peaceful rallies, on the orders of Gyanendra. Tanks blocked roads and helicopters monitored the protests from above on Saturday. In late afternoon, the king ordered cell phone service providers to suspend service to prevent the opposition from organizing demonstrations, The Hindu reported. |