Nepal's Maoist rebels call for nationwide strike

A Maoist rebel call for a nationwide strike today went largely unheeded in the Nepali capital of Katmandu – overshadowed by this week’s political crisis unleashed when the king sacked the government and claimed tight control over this Himalayan nation.

Rebel demands for a general strike usually bring the country to a virtual halt, with residents staying home out of fear of reprisals by angered guerrillas. But cars filled the streets of Katmandu today and most shops were open.