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Curfew lifted, Nepal faces more protests

KATHMANDU, Tuesday (AFP) Nepal's capital was facing another mass rally against King Gyanendra on Tuesday as authorities lifted a week-old night curfew and a ban on public protests in the capital Kathmandu after days of violent clashes.

A mobile phone blackout was also partially lifted as the royal government called for dialogue with opposition parties following a four-day crackdown that resulted in hundreds of arrests.

Kathmandu has seen days of running battles between protesters and police breaking up demonstrations against the king, who threw out the elected government last February.

Gyanendra said his power seizure was necessary to deal with a bloody insurgency by Maoist rebels, whose latest clash with armed forces left 23 dead on Sunday.

State television announced late Monday that the night curfew and a ban on public protests slapped on Kathmandu on Monday last week had been lifted. The curfew would remain in the neighbouring city of Bhaktapur, it said.

The curbs were announced following the deaths of at least 12 police in clashes with Maoist rebels near the capital and ahead of the announcement by political parties of a programme of anti-king protests. On Monday, Home Minister Kamal Thapa called on opposition parties behind the protests to enter into dialogue "with a clear agenda".

But he said there was no question of delaying local elections billed as part of the king's 'roadmap' to democracy but dismissed by critics as a sham.

"The government has no plans to defer polls. The election will be held as scheduled," Thapa said. Student groups and opposition parties meanwhile pledged to continue their protests, including a rally here on Tuesday and a nationwide strike on Thursday.

"Eight student unions in a meeting today have decided to mobilize students to help the seven opposition parties' protest programme for the next three days," Indra Karki, secretary of Nepal Students Union told AFP Monday.

The students will be "actively involved in making Thursday's nationwide general strike successful," Karki said. Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who was placed under house arrest over the weekend, ruled out making a deal with the king.

"There is no question of compromising with the king, who has sabotaged the people's rule and imposed his direct rule," said Koirala, president of the Nepali Congress party.

"The current wave of movement will go ahead with more vigour in the days ahead to fight to end autocratic monarchy and to restore democracy," he said in a statement.

Thursday marks the first day of candidate registration for the controversial local polls. Authorities reported Monday that Maoists had already shot and killed one candidate from a pro-royal party. The seven-party opposition have vowed to boycott the elections, and rebel Maoists have said that they will disrupt the voting.

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