Thousands of people were stranded across Nepal today due to a transport strike ordered by Maoist rebels in this troubled Himalayan kingdom.
Highways were deserted, and bus stations jammed with crowds. Truckers refused to move cargo, fearing rebel attacks if they broke the strike. Taxis and commuter vehicles stood still, forcing many to walk down to work. Most domestic flights were canceled, though international flights were operating.
The June 1-3 strike was called by the rebels' labor wing, the Nepal Trade Union Federation.
Today only a scattering of private vehicles plied the streets of the capital, Kathmandu.
Even schools were closed, with no buses to bring in students.
Most transport workers and unions don't support the rebels or their fight to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist state. But they fear defying orders from the notoriously ruthless rebels.
The guerrillas have in the past torched several vehicles defying strike calls. They bombed a bus in the capital on Sunday, leaving a least one person dead and 20 injured.
The rebels frequently call such strikes to show off their strength. They've been fighting since 1996 in an insurgency that's killed more than 9,000 people.
Fighting between the rebels and government soldiers has escalated since August, when the insurgents withdrew from a seven-month cease-fire after three rounds of peace talks.
{{/usCountry}}Fighting between the rebels and government soldiers has escalated since August, when the insurgents withdrew from a seven-month cease-fire after three rounds of peace talks.
{{/usCountry}}