Students, police clash in Nepal; 20 detained

The protest was held ahead of a nationwide four-day strike scheduled to begin on Thursday against Nepal King Gyanendra.

Police fired tear gas and charged at pro-democracy students who were blocking traffic on Tuesday in Nepal's capital, and at least 20 protesters were detained, witnesses said.

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Officers raided the Shankar Dev College, where the students were shouting slogans on a busy city road in a protest ahead of a nationwide four-day strike this week against King Gyanendra, according to student leader Suresh Gautam.

The protest was held ahead of a nationwide, four-day strike scheduled to begin on Thursday that is aimed at pressuring King Gyanendra to give up power, which he seized last year after sacking the prime minister.