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| Sunday, 3 April 2005 |
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Nepal's Maoist launch nationwide strike KATHMANDU, Saturday (AFP) Traffic was sparse on roads outside the Nepalese capital Saturday as trucks, cars and buses heeded the start of a nationwide strike called by Maoist rebels to protest King Gyanendra's takover two months ago. Witnesses outside the capital, mainly controlled by rebel forces, said traffic had decreased significantly on major highways that bring supplies to and from the Kathmandu valley. Maoist insurgents called the 11-day strike in an attempt to cut off the capital from supplies of food and fuel from the countryside and neighbouring India. Army spokesman Brigadier General Dipak Gurung said Friday troops and police would escort truck and bus convoys to and from the capital. The rebels have called frequent strikes since Gyanendra sacked a four-party coalition government and assumed power February 1 for failing to tackle an the Maoist insurgency to topple the monarchy. The insurgency has claimed more than 11,000 lives since 1996. |
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