Katmandu, Nepal – Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas and beat back stone-throwing Nepalese protesters, who defied curfews and took to the streets of this Himalayan nation for a fifth straight day Monday to demand that democracy be restored.
Nepal’s crisis showed no signs of easing as angry mobs again marched through major cities and far-flung towns, burning tires and hurling bricks at police wielding batons and shields.
King Gyanendra’s government remained steadfast in its refusal to reach out to the political opposition, now allied with Nepal’s communist insurgents in a campaign to force the king to relinquish control.
The result was another day of ragged and bloody protesters – some of them young children – facing riot police through clouds of tear gas in a Nepal as volatile as it has been in the 14 months since Gyanendra seized total power.
Security forces have killed three protesters and jailed more than 1,000 people during the five days of demonstrations.
Authorities have threatened even harsher measures if the protests do not end.
The demonstrations have, for the first time, brought thousands of workers, professionals and businesspeople into the streets alongside students and political activists.
