16 injured, over 1,000 arrested during agitations in Nepal

About 16 people, including four policemen were injured and more than 1,000 pro-democracy protestors, including activists of women's organisations and ethnic minority groups detained in Nepal.

About 16 people, including four policemen were injured and more than 1,000 pro-democracy protestors, including activists of women's organisations and ethnic minority groups detained in Nepal today as police broke up demonstrations in different parts of Kathmandu valley.

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Besides five agitating parties, ethnic minority groups, women's organisations and students bodies joined the rallies defying a government ban on public gatherings as pro-democracy agitations continued for 25th consecutive day.

Protestors and police clashed in different parts of the capital including New Road, Baghbazaar, Bhrikutimandap and Teku in which a dozen agitators and four policemen were hurt.

The agitators also damaged a vehicle at Durbarmarg on way to the Royal Palace during clashes with the policemen. They blocked roads in different parts of the city.

Some 1,500 women and 3,000 people belonging to ethnic minority groups took out separate rallies to oppose the royal take over and to support the five-party agitations demanding restoration of democracy and constitution of an all-party government.

The agitators chanted slogans like 'Down With Autocratic Monarchy', 'Form An All-party Government', 'Reinstate The Parliament,' and 'Return Democratic Rights'.

King Gyanendra, who sacked the elected Prime Minister on October 2002 and replaced him with his loyalist recently pledged to hold the general election by April 2005, but the agitating parties have rejected the King's offer saying that free and fair elections cannot be held in the present circumstances until the Maoist problem is resolved.