Nepal police kill seven Maoists in clashes ahead of vote

POLICE in Nepal have shot dead seven Maoists, the party said yesterday, in the worst outbreak of violence ahead of a high-stakes and tense vote on the Himalayan nation’s political future.

The Maoists, who are campaigning for Nepal’s god-king Gyanendra to be ousted and the monarchy to be immediately abolished after today’s elections, were killed during clashes with supporters of a rival party.

But rebel leader Prachanda, who has accused elements of the security forces of plotting to undermine the elections in order to save the king, made an appeal for calm.