Nepal frees ex-PM, 59 political prisoners

Kathmandu, April 22. (AP):

Authorities have freed a former deputy prime minister from house arrest and released 59 other political prisoners from jails across the country, police and the state news agency said Friday.

The move comes a day after human rights group Amnesty International accused Nepal's government of detaining more than 3,000 political prisoners since King Gyanendra sacked the government and seized power in February.

Bharat Mohan Adhikari, the deputy prime minister up until February, had spent 81 days under house arrest. He was prohibited from meeting his supporters or using the telephone. He was freed Thursday night, police said.

The report by the National News Agency, the government's mouthpiece, said that 59 other political activists had been freed but gave no other details.

Most senior political leaders in Nepal were detained in prisons or under house arrest soon after the king grabbed power and imposed a state of emergency.

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was freed from house arrest last month. Sphere: Related Content