Families protest against Nepal "disappearances"

KATHMANDU, Sep 5 (Reuters) Hundreds of people protested in the Nepali capital for the second straight day today demanding information about friends and relatives they say disappeared during a decade-old fight against Maoist rebels.

Dozens of protesters, whose demonstration has been backed by the rebels, were wounded late yesterday when police beat them with rattan sticks as they gathered outside the high security army headquarters in the capital.

''We will continue to protest until the government provides information about the people who are missing after being arrested by troops,'' said Sonu Pokharel, an official of a group set up by the families of those missing after being detained.

Nepal's state-funded National Human Rights Commission said last week at least 936 people were missing in the conflict and blamed both the security forces and Maoists for disappearances.

The United Nations also called on both sides to give information on those who have disappeared during the conflict.

But this week's protest was supported by the rebels and aimed squarely against the security forces.

Today, demonstrators carried pictures of their relatives -- mainly rebel sympathisers -- and chanted anti-government slogans as they gathered in front of a temple at a major road junction in Kathmandu.

''Give information about the disappeared people,'' some placards read in Nepali.

Hundreds of riot police stood by but there was no violence.

The rebels and interim government have been observing a ceasefire since street protests forced King Gyanendra to hand power to political parties in April.

The government has formed a panel to investigate complaints of disappearances and says it is awaiting the outcome of the inquiry.

More than 13,000 people have been killed in a Maoist revolt since 1996.

REUTERS MS KN1416