Nepalese police opened fire today as thousands of protesters marched toward the capital Kathmandu in defiance of a government-imposed curfew, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more.

Soldiers and police patrolled Nepal’s capital today as thousands of protesters from surrounding areas marched toward the city limits, where troops had orders to shoot on sight anyone breaking a curfew.

SECURITY forces fired on thousands of pro-democracy protesters in southeastern Nepal yesterday, killing at least four, and the government reimposed a curfew in the capital to prevent a massive rally urging the king to loosen his grip on power.

The latest violence in Nepal killed at least 23 communist rebels and 10 police today.