Police 'arrest hundreds' in Nepal

By Sushil Sharma BBC News, Kathmandu

There have been a number of protests in KathmanduOpposition parties in Nepal say police have arrested more than 500 people across the country demonstrating against King Gyanendra.
They were protesting against his February take-over of the government.

They are the biggest protests since the king declared a state of emergency and suspended civil rights.

The king said the move was needed to combat Nepal's Maoist rebels who want to replace the monarchy with a communist republic.

Baton charges
Opposition parties say that about 100 people were arrested in the capital, Kathmandu, and that many others were taken into custody in other parts of the country.
The figures could not be independently verified.

The king assumed direct control on 1 February

There have been no comments yet from the authorities, who in the past have played down opposition claims.

The Kathmandu demonstrators shouted slogans calling for the restoration of democracy.
Police baton-charged demonstrators in some parts of the country.

Friday has a symbolic importance for the political parties. It was on this day in 1990 that joint opposition protests forced the-then king to establish multi-party democracy after 30 years of direct rule.

The opposition has once again come together following the royal assumption of direct powers on 1 February.

Opposition members have been holding protests at the royal move since then, despite rallies now being illegal.

The king said that he assumed direct powers because the parties failed to tackle the long-running Maoist insurgency.

Hundreds of opposition leaders and activists were arrested after 1 February.

About 300, including some top leaders, were freed last week.

The political parties have dubbed the royal move undemocratic and unconstitutional. Sphere: Related Content