Strike shuts down Kathmandu

NEPAL: An ethnic minority group demanding better representation staged a general strike closing down much of the Nepali capital.

Schools and businesses were shut and traffic kept out of the usually congested centre of Kathmandu, AFP reporters said.

"Gangs of youths have been stopping traffic at various intersections in Kathmandu since this morning," a police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The strike was called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, which staged its first, small demonstration in the capital last week.

The group, which plans more protests, wants increased government representation for minority groups and proportional representation in crucial elections due before mid-June.

The protests come after three weeks of violence in the southeast of the impoverished country by ethnic Mahadhesis also demanding increased representation.

The protests left 29 people dead and prompted the prime minister to promise to give them a greater voice in shaping the nation's future.

Meanwhile police stopped two armed Maoist bodyguards from entering Nepal's parliament a home ministry spokesman said.

"The bodyguards of two Maoist parliamentarians were prevented by police from entering parliament after they found the two men were carrying Chinese-made pistols," said Baman Prasad Neupane.

He said the bodyguards were not detained, but declined to give further information.

Initial registration of Maoist weapons and soldiers is expected to be completed by the weekend.

As part of the peace deal, the rebels are allowed to keep some of their weapons for the protection of Maoist VIPs.

At least 13,000 people were killed in the Maoist "people's war" that began in western Nepal in 1996.

Kathmandu, Friday, AFP