Archives

KATHMANDU, Sunday (AFP)

Three women were seriously injured after a bomb ripped through central Kathmandu Saturday ahead of a Maoist rebel strike to protest King Gyanendra's dismissal of the government.

The bomb was planted in the compound of a Buddhist temple in the capital's Tebahal area. The target was likely a police post guarding the nearby headquarters of Royal Nepal Airlines, police said.

The blast shattered windows in the state air carrier's office, injuring three elderly women who were praying in the early morning. They were taken to hospital where there condition was described as serious. Police said they suspected Maoist rebels fighting to overthrow the monarchy were behind the blast. The guerrillas, who control vast areas of the Himalayan kingdom, have carried out almost daily small-bomb blasts since a state of emergency expired August 28, injuring scores.

The rebels plan Monday to launch a three-day general strike across the kingdom to oppose King Gyanendra's October 4 dismissal of the elected prime minister, who he said was "incompetent" and replaced a week later with a staunch monarchist.

Meanwhile.the security supervisor for the US embassy in Nepal was Saturday shot dead at his house by three gunmen, officials said.

Deepak Prasad Pokharel was sleeping at his home in Kathmandu when three assailants entered, shot him at close range and escaped, a home ministry official told AFP.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager