Nepal rebels end blockade of highways

COMMUNIST rebels withdrew a blockade of Nepal’s highways yesterday but gave the country’s political parties a two-day deadline to begin the process of rewriting the constitution, their leader said.

“We have withdrawn the blockade until the first meeting of the Parliament, taking into consideration positive assurances,” rebel leader Prachanda said in the statement.

The announcement came as soldiers in south-western Nepal opened fire on thousands of villagers peacefully protesting at the death of a local woman at an army camp, killing six, a rights activist said, adding the protesters had been emboldened by the country’s weeks of political turmoil.