Several protest in Nepal over delay in elections

Kathmandu, Jul 26: Hundreds of Nepalis protested in the capital Kathmandu today against an alleged delay in holding elections to decide the restive nation's political future.

About 2,000 lawyers, journalists, human rights activists, students and teachers held a sit-down protest on a major street in the temple-studded city.

They were demanding early polls to a special assembly to write a new constitution for Nepal, as promised by the country's interim government.

''We think there is undue delay in dissolving parliament and announcing the date for elections to the (constituent) assembly,'' said Devendra Raj Pandey, chief of a civil society group, Movement for Democracy and Peace, which organised the protest.

''Therefore, we are cautioning the government,'' he said.

The protesters carried placards, some of which read: ''Long live democratic republic''.

Nepal's interim government, formed after King Gyanendra handed power back to political parties in April, plans to hold polls next year for the special assembly that would write a new constitution for the country.

This is also a key demand of Maoist rebels, who have been fighting the monarchy since 1996, a conflict in which more than 13,000 people have been killed.

But analysts say the people, who were expecting speedy changes, lack confidence that political leaders will quickly implement the plan.

REUTERS