Anti-King demonstrators defy curfew, several injured in firing

Kathmandu, Apr 22 (UNI) Nepalese security forces fired at demonstrators and used tear gas shells to disperse tens of thousands of anti-King protesters, who were marching towards the city centre were raising slogans against the King.

About a dozen supporters of the seven parties were injured in the firing, local media reported.

Despite the curfew imposed in the Kathmandu valley for the last few days, tens of thousands of people with party flags sang democracy songs and raised slogans against the King.

Thousands of people marched towards the city centre, after the seven parties decided to lead the movement rejecting the King's statement, saying was ''a ploy to weaken democracy movement.'' Army and police with armoured vehicles have been mobilised to control the demonstrators and implement the curfew.

Armoured vehicles were taking position around the royal palace and helicopters were flying over the sky.

The major political parties have said that the announcement of the King was too short and too late, as the party supporters including the professionals and Maoists are forcing not to compromise with the King, saying that it is a conspiracy to diffuse the movement.

''This is meaningless,'' former prime minister and president of the Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala said after the meeting of the seven parties, refering to the King's address.

Our movement will continue until complete democracy is not established, he said as thousands of party supporters of the seven parties shouted slogans outside the meeting venue of seven parties.

King Gyanendra sacked an elected government in February last year and declared himself as the chairman of the council of ministers and filled the ministerial posts with hand picked people.

The revival of the House, which Gyanendra dissolved three years ago, and formation of an all party government including Maoists, and to hold election of constituent assembly were the bottomlines of their demand, the parties said.

UNI XC AD BD1713