TMCnet News
Tens of thousands defy Nepal curfew(UPI Top Stories Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Nearly 100,000 people defied an 18-hour curfew in Kathmandu and came out on the streets Thursday to join anti-monarch, pro-democracy protests. Although authorities Wednesday had issued shoot-at-sight orders in the capital to stop the protests, the demonstrators were not deterred, NDTV.com reported. The government imposed a curfew from 2 a.m. to 8 p.m. Authorities have also banned all public meetings and have increased the jail time for human rights campaigners and opposition activists who are now in jail. King Gyanendra was expected to address the nation Thursday night and to renew his offer of talks with political parties. He also has offered the post of prime minister to Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who refused the offer. Bhattarai, a leader of the Nepali Congress Party, has held the position of prime minister numerous times in the past. At least eight people have died in the violent pro-democracy protests, which have continued for two weeks. |