Friday, April 21 2006 11:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's Royal government today (Apr 21, 2006) imposed a day time curfew in the capital as pro-democracy demonstrations in the Himalayan Kingdom continued for the 16th day.

The curfew has been clamped from 9 AM to 8 PM, state-run radio Nepal said.

Demonstrators in various parts of Kathmandu burnt tyres and chanted anti-king slogans protesting yesterday's crackdown by the Army and police in which at least four persons were killed and 100 others injured.

Shortage of essential commodities has hit normal life with prices of essential commodities soaring even as the Seven-Party alliance seeking restoration of democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom has vowed to continue with the agitation.

Citizens of Kathmandu observed a half-an-hour blackout in the evening yesterday to oppose the suppression and demand democracy.