Nepal announces extended curfew to curb protests

Nepal’s government announced tonight that a dawn-to-dusk curfew would be extended for a second day in the capital Katmandu in an attempt to foil a planned rally against King Gyanendra’s direct rule.

A notice on the state-run Nepal Television said the curfew would be imposed between 7am to 8pm in Katmandu and its surrounding areas after opposition parties announced plans to hold a rally on Sunday. It gives security forces orders to shoot any violators.