NEPAL: Nepalis trickled into schools, temples and ancient courtyards yesterday for local elections, seen by many as the first real test of King Gyanendra's rule since he seized power a year ago.
With the seven main political parties and Maoist rebels opposing polls they see as a sham, there was moderate violence - including an anti-election protester killed by the army - small protests and a low turnout.
The parties and the rebels say the poll, the first in almost seven years, is aimed at giving a veneer of legitimacy to King Gyanendra. Many Nepalis see the vote as a mini-referendum on support for the unpopular monarch. But the outcome was unclear.
The rebels launched several attacks around the country overnight and set off bombs near polling booths throughout the day. But they failed to launch a major attack, the parties failed to stage any significant protest and the turnout was not high enough to give the king a clear victory.
At many polling booths heavily-armed police and soldiers in battle gear outnumbered voters.
The election commission could not give a turnout figure, but local media said the figure was barely 14 per cent for the capital Kathmandu, one of the safest areas voting.
The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, said 1,000 people were arrested across the country to prevent protests.
The palace says the polls are the first step in restoring democracy since Gyanendra sacked the government and took over last February, saying he was forced to act to end the Maoist rebellion that enters its 11th year next week and has killed over 13,000 people.
Diplomats worry the revolt could spin out of control and Nepal, sandwiched between India and China, could become a haven for international terrorist groups or drugs trafficking. The US and Europe want to avoid a Maoist takeover.
India shares a long, open border with Nepal, is home to millions of Nepalis and is worried that Nepali Maoists have already forged links with left-wing extremists in India.
"When the political parties are not participating, what is the use of having elections? These elections are unwanted," said 69-year-old Kamal Prasad Joshi. "They will not help the king, they will not help the people, they will not help the country."
The political parties dream of a replay of 1990, when huge and sustained street protests forced Gyanendra's brother, then-king Birendra, to introduce multi-party democracy. Opinion is divided over whether they will succeed 16 years later.
The Royal Nepal Army is still firmly behind the king.
The rebels called a strike to disrupt voting, closing many shops and businesses and forcing traffic off the roads. The government declared a public holiday.
It was unclear how many people stayed away through fear of the rebels and how many were joining the boycott.