Nepal bomb blast kills one, strike begins to bite

KATHMANDU, Monday (Reuters) - Maoist guerrillas set off a bomb in a Nepali tourist town killing a university student, as a nationwide strike called by the insurgents pushed up prices of foodstuffs, officials and traders said on Monday.

The bomb went off late on Sunday in Pokhara in western Nepal, where the strike call had been largely ignored, since the closure began on Saturday.

Three people were also wounded in the explosion and the town overlooking the scenic Himalayan mountains shut down after the attack, police and a witness said.

Maoists, fighting to topple Nepal's Hindu monarchy, called a 11-day strike to protest against King Gyanendra's assumption of power, detention of political leaders and suspension of civil liberties two months ago.