Pro-monarchists besiege secretariat, clash with Nepal police

Thousands of royal supporters clashed with the police today as they besieged the government secretariat in the heart of the capital, demanding a referendum on restoring the monarchy and Nepal's status as a Hindu state.

Thousands of royal supporters clashed with the police today as they besieged the government secretariat in the heart of the capital, demanding a referendum on restoring the monarchy and Nepal's status as a Hindu state.

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A day after paralysing the capital, pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) shutdown the Singha Durbar, the government secretariat that also houses the prime minister's office, sparking a clash with the riot police.

The supporters of the deposed king shouted pro-monarchist slogans including "Establish Hindu rule" and "We don't want a republic".

Chandra Bahadur Gurung, a party lawmaker and other leaders were injured when the police resorted to baton charge to prevent the monarchists from disrupting the movement of vehicles, the Himalayan Times online said.

Over 200 activists of RPP-N, including a former minister, were arrested in the capital yesterday as they enforced a general strike in three districts of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

The RPP-N, one of the smallest party in the 601-Constituent Assembly with just four members, have been demanding a referendum on the decision to abolish the monarchy in 2008 and transform the country into a secular republic.