26 die in rebel violence

New rebel violence killed at least 26 people in Nepal today, 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, and 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.

“The policemen left this evening and now I think I am free to move out,” Oli said by telephone.

Close aides of Koirala and Bijuchche also confirmed their release.

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

Also today, 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.

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.

The rebels, who are fighting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and establish a socialist state, made no comment on the attack, but have warned they would take action against anyone who announces their candidacy or helps the royal government hold the elections.

The country’s major political parties are also boycotting the elections. The alliance of seven main parties has vowed it will continue to hold protest rallies until King Gyanendra steps down as absolute ruler.

Police detained 32 protesters who were demonstrating in the centre of Katmandu today. Another protester was wounded when he was hit by riot police using batons to disperse the rally.

Riot police armed with batons and tear gas were posted across the centre of the capital with orders to prevent all anti-government protests.

The Central People’s Movement Coordination Committee announced there would be demonstrations until Tuesday in major cities across Nepal, followed by a nationwide strike on Thursday.

The committee, which has representatives from all seven major parties, has been coordinating protests across Nepal.

Hundreds of police on Saturday fired tear gas and beat pro-democracy activists who defied a ban on rallies in the capital.

Police arrested at least 300 protesters and at least 50 others were injured in the clashes, which continued for several hours.

The royal government has claimed it must prevent all rallies because of intelligence suggesting that communist rebels would use them to launch attacks.