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Police deployed to block planned Kathmandu rally

Police armed with tear gas, bamboo batons and orders to use force if necessary were depoyed across Nepal's capital yesterday to block plans by the political opposition to protest King Gyanendra's power grab last month.

The constitutional monarch dismissed the government on Feb. 1, imposing emergency rule and suspending civil liberties.

Dozens of opposition politicians and other critics of the monarch have been arrested, including several journalists. Police on Monday night arrested prominent reporter Kanakmani Dixit, publisher of Himal magazine, but released him several hours later, according to an editor at the magazine. Authorities gave no reason for his detention.

Since the takeover, many politicians have gone underground and police have thwarted efforts by Nepal's five major political parties to hold big rallies.

A few demonstrators have taken to the streets, only to be quickly detained by police.

But Nepal's political parties said yesterday's anti-king rally in Katmandu would be much bigger than previous ones and vowed that demonstrators would not be deterred by the heavy security presence.

``We have urged all our supporters to fight a decisive movement to restore democracy in Nepal,'' said Meena Pandey, a leader of the Nepali Congress, the largest party.

Keshav Badal, a senior member of the Communist Party of Nepal, said party leaders would take part in the rally.

"We expect a much bigger response," he said.

But a government minister said the protest would not be permitted.

"Under emergency rule such protests are banned. We will do what needs to be done," Education Minister Radha Krishna Mainali said.

Senior police officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had orders to break up any protest, even by using force if necessary. They said protesters would be arrested if they defy orders.

Meanwhile the king, who is also the supreme commander of the Royal Nepalese Army, made an appearance at the military parade grounds in the heart of Katmandu for an annual Hindu celebration.
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