Thursday, February 9 2006 16:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Tens of thousands of people today (Feb 9,2006) rallied across Nepal denouncing the Army killing of an anti-poll activist as early results showed that pro-Government candidates dominated the municipal elections touted by King Gyanendra as the first steb back to democracy.

The Nepalese capital was tense since morning with the seven-party opposition alliance and eight students bodies affiliated to them organising separate rallies to protest against yesterday's army firing on an anti-poll demonstration in Dang district in western Nepal which left a Nepal Communist Party-UML (CPN-UML) cadre dead and another person injured.

About 20,000 people demonstrated in Kathmandu shouting anti-King slogans and demanding resignation of Home Minister Kamal Thapa and also strong action against him as he had ordered the Army to shoot if necessary to control those tryingto disrupt the polls.

Thousands of people, including political leaders, also gathered at Nayabanehwor to mourn the death of CPN-UML activist Umesh Thapa.

"We utterly denounce the barbaric act of killing a civilian just due to the lunatic directive of Home Minister Kamal Thapa," CPN-UML said in a statement. The party said its deceased cadre was returning from a peaceful poll boycott rally when the army opened fire.

The body would be taken to Aryaghat at Pashupatinath Temple for cremation, party sources said.

Demonstrations were also organised in other parts of Nepal to protest the army firing.