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Maoists end Kathmandu blockade

A wandering ascetic Indian holy man known as a ``Sadhu'' adorns himself with body paint at his post in the Pashupatinath Hindu Shrine in Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. Residents of Kathmandu, which has been rocked by three weeks of violence and mass protests against King Gyanendra, have returned to their daily routines in the wake of concessions offered by the king. PHOTO: AP

Nepal's powerful Maoists lifted a blockade of the capital yesterday following a plea by the country's prime minister-designate ahead of the first parliamentary session in four years.

The Maoists were forced into a U-turn following the public outpouring of joy when embattled King Gyanendra late on Monday handed control to politicians after weeks of violent street protests against his outright rule.

Gyanendra announced parliament, which he dismissed in 2002, would sit tomorrow as he conceded power in the face of the protests in which many sought to dislodge the world's last Hindu monarch. Authorities had warned the protesters they could be shot on sight.

Gyanendra seized total power almost 15 months ago after sacking the government, accusing it of corruption and of failing to quell a decade-long Maoist rebellion.

The Maoists, who have a loose alliance with seven leading political parties, initially rejected the king's move saying it did not answer their key demand for a constitutional review of the role of the monarchy.

The rebels want a legislative body, called a constituent assembly, to draft a new constitution which would likely clip the king's powers.

The opposition, now led by three-time former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, 81, said the main business tomorrow would be to call for a constituent assembly to placate the rebels in hope that they lay down their arms and join the political process.

Yesterday, the rebels responded.

"We have withdrawn our blockade until the first session of parliament taking into account the commitment made for constituent assembly elections and the request made by Koirala," Maoist leader Prachanda said in a statement.

But he warned that the blockades, in Kathmandu and other centers, would be reimposed if parliament failed to call for a constituent assembly tomorrow.

The wrangling in the run-up to the re-opening of parliament came after tens of thousands hit the streets on Tuesday to celebrate the king's climbdown.

A protester, fired on by police during a demonstration last week in west Nepal, died of his injuries four days later taking the toll to at least 15 dead across the country from clashes between security forces and demonstrators. Hundreds more were injured.

Meanwhile the authorities on Tuesday released 320 political detainees who had been held in and around Kathmandu, police confirmed.

"Among the released were political leaders, human rights activists, civil society members and protesters," a police official said on condition of anonymity.

Leaders of the alliance said one of their first acts would be to call a ceasefire against the Maoists and urged the rebel group to do the same.

The Maoists began their armed uprising to win a republic in 1996 and more than 12,500 people have since been killed. The rebels effectively control large parts of the countryside.

Koirala's staff said the aging leader was ill yesterday, but he met the Indian ambassador amid reports that Nepal's giant republican neighbor was preparing an aid package to help lift the country's shattered economy.
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