Nepal beefs up security on 2nd day of strike

Nepal increased the police presence on the streets of its major cities to quell unrest on Monday, the second day of a general strike called by the country's former Maoist rebels to protest the president.

Nepal increased the police presence on the streets of its major cities to quell unrest on Monday, the second day of a general strike called by the country's former Maoist rebels to protest the president.

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Supporters of the former rebels clashed with riot police, attacked vehicles, forced shops to close and blocked highways across the country on Sunday as they tried to enforce the start of the three-day strike.

Despite the increased security Monday, police spokesman Bigyanraj Sharma said there were reports of fresh scuffles between police and protesters, though minor, and a half-dozen vehicles were set on fire. Protesters were out in force in the capital, Katmandu. The Maoists called the strike to protest President Ram Baran Yadav, whom they accuse of acting unconstitutionally after he overturned the previous government's decision to fire the army chief.

Political tensions have been high since a Maoist-led government resigned in May amid the dispute with Yadav over the army chief's refusal to incorporate former Maoist rebel fighters into the military. Since then, the former rebels have protested the president in the streets and in parliament.

The Maoists gave up their armed revolt in 2006 to join a peace process. They have since confined their fighters in UN-monitored camps and joined mainstream politics. They contested elections last year and won the most seats in parliament.