Strike called by Maoists cripples life in Nepal

Kathmandu, Dec 19 (UNI) Normal life in the Himalayan nation was paralysed today with the Maoists calling for six-hour general strike here, to protest the decision of the government to appoint ambassadors to various countries including India.

Protesting the government decision to name ambassadors, the CPN (Maoist) today called for a bandh in the Kathmandu Valley, crippling life across the valley.

''Such unilateral action by the government could seriously affect the ongoing-peace process,'' Maoists spokesman Krishna Bahadur was quoted as saying in the local media.

''The decisions, including nomination of the ambassadors, are a violation of the government-Maoist agreements reached in the past,'' he said.

Party cadres of the various sister organisations, affiliated to the CPN-Maoist, forced markets and schools to shut down and stopped vehicles, reports said.

They burnt tyres at various places causing great Inconvinence to the general public.

The government had decided to appoint ambassadors to 14 countries including India, yesterday. Nepali Congress leaer Shailaja Acharya has been named as ambassador to India.

The appointment have to be rafified by a parliamentary committee.

Earlier, it was the King's prerogative to appoint envoys.

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