UN raps Nepal troops over anti-king crackdown

KATHMANDU, Sep 21 (Reuters) Nepal's army and police used excessive force to crack down on April's protests against King Gyanendra, causing deaths and injuries to demonstrators and civilians, the United Nations said today.

''Children and young people, as well as medical workers trying to treat the injured, were among those targeted,'' David Johnson, Officer-in-Charge of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, said in a report.

''OHCHR-Nepal staff themselves witnessed police using baton-charges into crowds, including peaceful assemblies, often aimed at the head and causing serious injury,'' he said.

''They also witnessed police fire teargas directly at crowds and the negligent use of rubber bullets -- all constituted improper and excessive use of force.'' Nepal went through days of often violent street protests in April against Gyanendra, who had sacked the government in 2005 and assumed absolute power.

At least 22 people were killed and more than 5,000 wounded in the protests, which were led by Nepal's main political parties.

The demonstrations eventually forced the king to hand back political power to the parties.

''It is essential the authorities, including the security forces, recognise that there were serious and repeated instances of excessive use of force,'' Johnson said.

''This is an important step towards taking measures to prevent further loss of life or injury during demonstrations in the future,'' he added.

Nepal now has an interim government led by the political parties which have moved swiftly to curb most of the monarch's prerogatives.

Elections are likely next year in the restive Himalayan nation to set up a special assembly that would write a new constitution.

The UN officer asked the new government to amend Nepal's Public Security Act to bring it into line with international standards and make the arbitrary use of force by security forces a criminal offence.

A high-level inquiry commission named by the interim government is investigating the royal crackdown and has so far questioned more than 200 politicians, civil servants, police officials and army generals.

REUTERS SP BD1809