At least 100 hurt as Nepalese police, protesters clash

At least 100 people were hurt in clashes yesterday as thousands of Nepalis defied a curfew to march on the capital to reject embattled King Gyanendra's offer to return power to the people.

Twelve in serious condition with bullet wounds and beating injuries, a doctor said, after police fired on thousands of demonstrators as protests neared the heavily defended king's palace in the heart of Kathmandu.

Opposition and Maoist rebels dismissed Gyanendra's promise of a return to multi-party democracy and said they would continue protests and demands for a new constitution to decide the monarchy's fate.

new curfew

The monarch ordered a new curfew to run for eight hours from midday yesterday after protesters gathered on the outskirts of the city, burning tires and throwing stones.

The protesters shouted "The king's address is a sham," "Leaders don't compromise with the king," and "We want complete democracy."

Tens thousands then moved towards the center where they were met by a wall of police who charged them with batons and tear gas, forcing them to turn tail leaving hundreds of shoes on the ground, a reporter witnessed.

Many the wounded had head injuries, according to doctor Sarita Pandey of Kathmandu Model Hospital.

The demonstrations came hours after King Gyanendra's announcement late on Friday asking Nepal's seven-party opposition to appoint a prime minister in an apparent climbdown after two weeks of mayhem against his absolute rule.

In his televised speech after tumultuous demonstrations in Kathmandu and sustained international pressure, the king called for "a meaningful exercise in democracy" with elections "as soon as possible."

But the opposition rejected the offer and vowed to continue protests on the 17th day of strikes and demonstrations against the king who seized power in February last year.

"The king in his royal proclamation has failed to address the issues of the seven-party alliance's roadmap and the understanding reached with the Maoists," the parties said in a joint statement. "There is no way we can join the government and our general strike and peaceful protest will continue."

demands

The alliance wants a constituent assembly to decide the future of the monarch, who sacked the government 14 months ago, saying it was corrupt and had failed to stem a bloody Maoist revolt.

The Maoists, who have fought a 10-year insurgency that has left some 12,500 dead, said the "so-called royal address" by the king was meaningless.

In a statement, their leader said they would continue to oppose the king, who held out no olive branch to the Maoists in his speech. They are seen as key to any settlement as they control swathes of the country.

The Maoists and their former foes from the opposition parties struck a loose alliance in November to oust the Hindu monarch, who is believed by many in Nepal to be a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, the protector.

Gyanendra's drew cautious praise from the international community, with the US, the UN, Britain and India welcoming the move.