Maoists kill candidate

KATHMANDU, Friday (AFP) - Suspected Maoists rebels have killed a politician who was standing for election in municipal polls in Nepal slated for next week and bombed two candidates' homes, authorities said Friday.

The announcement of the killing came a day after the rebels pledged not to attack any candidates in the polls being held as part of King Gyanendra's pledge to restore democracy.

The dead man was "shot by Maoists at his house" in eastern Nepal late Thursday and died in hospital, a police officer told AFP by telephone from Morang, 550 kilometres (344 miles) from Kathmandu.

Another unidentified man who was at the house also died, said the officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, suspected rebels bombed late Thursday the homes of two candidates running for mayor in Tikapur in western Nepal, the army said in a statement, adding that no-one was hurt.