NEPAL: Nepali police opened fire to block tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters marching into Kathmandu yesterday to confront King Gyanendra, killing at least three people and wounding up to 100.
There were signs however that the embattled monarch was looking to end the showdown with a seven-party alliance spearheading a campaign against his rule, according to an Indian envoy who visited him to urge reconciliation.
"I am hopeful that very shortly some sort of announcement will be made by him which will help considerably defuse the situation," Indian lawmaker Karan Singh told reporters in New Delhi on his return from Kathmandu.
Officials confirmed three people had been killed in police firing to enforce a strict curfew in the capital, as part of a clampdown ordered to prevent protesters marching on the palace.
More than 100,000 people gathered at various suburbs around the capital's ring road. Police opened fire with rubber bullets and live rounds at three or four places to push back the crowds, witnesses said. Army helicopters appeared to be monitoring the crowds.
Three bodies with gunshot wounds and about 40 injured people were brought to the Kathmandu Model Hospital from the western suburb of Kalanki, doctors said.
"Police opened indiscriminate fire," said Kundan Aryal, a human rights group volunteer who helped take wounded to hospital. "They used batons and fired rubber and live bullets."
At least eight people had been killed previously and hundreds wounded in police action against demonstrators since the alliance launched crippling protests 15 days ago to demand restoration of multiparty democracy.
A general strike has prevented the movement of goods and people across the impoverished nation. The parties had planned massive rallies yesterday to bring the movement to a head, but the royalist government ordered a curfew.
"So many people have come out on the street despite the curfew and crackdown," said Krishna Prasad Sitaula, a leader of the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the coalition.
The parties said a similar attempt to march into the city would be made today. - (Reuters)