Thursday, January 19 2006 10:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's Government today (Jan 19,2006) severed all telephone services in the capital and issued three-month arrest warrants to 16 political leaders ahead of the anti-King rally planned by the seven political parties tomorrow (Jan 20,2006).

Mobile and wireless telephones were dead since early morning but landline phones resumed after three-and-a-half hours of disruption. There was no connection from 5 am to 8.30 am without any notice.

"The Government is using all sorts of suppressive measures to stop our agitation, but we are determined to hold Friday's massive anti-King rally in Kathmandu,"Nepali Congress (Democratic) general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi said.

The Government has also issued 90 days arrest warrants to 16 political leaders, including Nepali Congress central member Narahari Acharya, NC Kathmandu District President Tirtha Ram Dangol, Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader N.P. Saud and Nepal Communist Party (UML) Kathmandu valley coordinator Yogesh Bhattarai, who were detained during an anti-poll campaign in Kathmandu.

More arrests are feared ahead of the proposed anti-King demonstrations as the government is moving ahead to suppress the agitation with tightened security and prolonged curfew hours in Kathmandu in the pretext of parties intensifying their agitation.

The last time telephone and internet services were cut off was in February last year when King Gyanendra sacked an interim government and formed a new administration under his chairmanship.

Political analysts here also hinted at the possibility of banning political parties after Home Minister Kamal Thapa yesterday warned of legal action against major parties agitating for restoration of democracy.

Thapa charged the parties of aligning with the Maoists and warned that an 'unpleasant decision could be taken' against them. But political parties said they did not receive any formal invitation for dialogue from the King's Government.

"If the parties did not come for dialogue they could face strong legal action," the Home Minister said without elaborating. The Maoists who attacked Kathmandu last week, were inspired by the political parties, he claimed.

However, political party leaders have denied the charge and denounced all sorts of violence. NC (Democratic) leader Nidhi said.

Nepal's royal Government yesterday (Jan 18,2006)extended the night curfew by an hour and asked citizens to carry identity cards.

The curfew has been extended to seven hours and will now start from 9 pm and end at 4 am, according to officials.

The Government has also imposed restrictions on demonstrations, rallies, public meetings and sit-ins in the valley.

However, political parties are determined to hold tomorrow's anti-King rallies in the capital. They have also begun a door-to-door campaign asking people to boycott the Municipal polls slated for February 8.