Fresh wave of Nepal violence leaves 25 dead

NEW rebel violence killed at least 25 people in Nepal yesterday, while political parties continued to defy a government crackdown on protests against King Gyanendra’s direct rule over the Himalayan kingdom.

The royal government released three top opposition leaders from house arrest.

Troops left the houses of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, president of the Nepali Congress party; Khadga Prasad Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal; and Narayan Man Bijuchche of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party.

At least 17 rebels, five soldiers, two civilians and a policeman were killed in clashes near the village of Phapar Badi, about 100 miles south of Katmandu.

The fighting broke out when a group of rebels attacked security forces patrolling the area at night and continued until daybreak, Defence Ministry spokesman Bhupendra Poudel said.

Soldiers were combing the area on foot and using helicopters to search for the attackers, Poudel said.

The three opposition leaders were among five put under house arrest on Friday when the government imposed a curfew and took other steps to block opposition plans for a mass anti- government rally in Katmandu.

Two of Oli’s party colleagues, Madhav Nepal and Bharat Mohan Adhikari, remained under house arrest.

Also yesterday, suspected rebels fatally shot a candidate in next month’s municipal elections, a local government official said.

Bijaya Lal Das was shot near his office in Janakpur, about 190 miles southeast of Katmandu, the official said.

Mr Das was a local leader of the small Nepal Sadbhawana Party, which supports King Gyanendra. He was a candidate for mayor of Janakpur in municipal elections on February 8.