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'Shoot-to-kill' curfew in Nepal
An 18-hour curfew has come into force in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, ahead of a major demonstration planned by the opposition.
Ten people have been killed at rallies in two weeks of protests calling for an end to King Gyanendra's direct rule.
The authorities have refused to allow exemptions to the 0200 (2015 GMT) to 2000 curfew, and said anyone violating it would be "shot on sight".
The government says Maoist rebels have infiltrated rallies to sow violence.
Thursday's pro-democracy rally, planned in defiance of a ban on public meetings, would mark the start of the third week of countrywide marches and strikes.
In addition to the curfew, the government has doubled the period of detention orders on a number of imprisoned human rights campaigners and opposition politicians.
In previous curfews over the past two weeks, passes had been issued to tourist, press, diplomatic and emergency vehicles.
International pressure
Wednesday was the 14th day of a nationwide shutdown called by the opposition, angered by the king's decision to sack his government and assume direct powers in February 2005.
In what was the worst day of violence since the protests began, security forces opened fire on protesters in the eastern town of Chandragardi, killing four people and wounding dozens.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4924610.stm
The authorities have refused to allow exemptions to the 0200 (2015 GMT) to 2000 curfew, and said anyone violating it would be "shot on sight".
The government says Maoist rebels have infiltrated rallies to sow violence.
Thursday's pro-democracy rally, planned in defiance of a ban on public meetings, would mark the start of the third week of countrywide marches and strikes.
In addition to the curfew, the government has doubled the period of detention orders on a number of imprisoned human rights campaigners and opposition politicians.
In previous curfews over the past two weeks, passes had been issued to tourist, press, diplomatic and emergency vehicles.
International pressure
Wednesday was the 14th day of a nationwide shutdown called by the opposition, angered by the king's decision to sack his government and assume direct powers in February 2005.
In what was the worst day of violence since the protests began, security forces opened fire on protesters in the eastern town of Chandragardi, killing four people and wounding dozens.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4924610.stm
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The immigration officer at Kathmandu 's Tribhuvan international airport looked up as he stamped my passport, resplendent in his blue uniform.
"We need democracy, total democracy not partial," he said.
"Make sure you put that in your report. Without democracy we cannot develop as a nation. Enough is enough."
For the past few days, the tide appears to have turned against King Gyanendra.
What started out as a political protest by a seven-party alliance, and then translated into a show of people power as Nepalis stormed the streets across the country, has finally crossed another frontier.
Professionals, lawyers and now bureaucrats - including from the all-powerful home ministry - have joined the struggle, some in spirit and others more substantially.
Public sentiment
The one institution above all others that has remained loyal to the king has been the Royal Nepalese Army.
But as flak-jacketed soldiers patrol the corner of every street in the Nepalese capital, they are acutely aware of the public mood.
"The public sentiment here is far too strong," says one local journalist.
"The protests have spread far wider and appear to be much more intense than those of 1990," he added, careful to remain unnamed, with the administration particularly severe against the media.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4923938.stm