Police clash with Maoist protesters in Nepal
Posted: 12 November 2009 1740 hrs

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KATHMANDU - Riot police used tear gas and batons to disperse Maoist activists holding a huge protest rally outside the main government compound in Nepal's capital on Thursday.

Tens of thousands of activists chanting anti-government slogans and waving red flags blockaded the compound in central Kathmandu from early morning, and police said violence broke out when they tried to enter a prohibited area.

"We used force after the protesters tried to breach our security cordon and enter the prohibited zone," deputy superintendent of police Kanchha Bhandari told AFP, adding 14 rounds of tear gas were fired.

The protest -- the biggest since the Maoists fell from power in May -- brought government ministries to a virtual standstill, with most civil servants and ministers staying at home to avoid clashes.

"Nepal may have become a republic, but we have yet to achieve true people's rule," protester Shanchalal Waiba told AFP outside the Singha Durbar government complex.

"This protest may bring difficulties to the people in the short term, but in the long term it will bring a better future."

The Maoists won landmark elections last year and abolished the monarchy, but their government fell after just eight months when the president overruled their attempt to sack the head of the army.

The blockade is part of a fortnight-long series of nationwide protests being held by the former guerrillas, who fought a 10-year civil war against the state that ended in 2006.

The Maoists say the president's move was unconstitutional and are demanding an apology and a parliamentary debate on the role of the head of state.

Maoist leader and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda or "the fierce one", said their main aim was to restore "civilian supremacy" over the military.

"Our achievements have been hijacked and civilian supremacy has been hijacked. The main aim of our protest is to restore it," he told reporters outside the Singha Durbar complex.

"Unless the president's move is corrected, we will continue our protests."

Maoist lawmaker Barshanan Pun said 20 protesters had been injured in the clash, which came despite assurances from both party leaders and the government that they would do all they could to ensure violence did not break out.

Maoist number two Baburam Bhattarai told journalists on Wednesday the party was planning a "peaceful protest" and would "celebrate it as a festival," while police said they had orders to exercise restraint.

The protest began in celebratory mood, with activists dancing and playing traditional music as they handed round dishes of rice and curry.

But the atmosphere turned sour after the clashes broke out and one television station showed police using axes to destroy musical instruments left behind when the demonstrators fled.

- AFP /ls