Sunday, April 23 2006 11:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's Royal government imposed a curfew for the fifth consecutive day today (Apr23, 2006) in the capital where anti-King protesters continued to demonstrate demanding restoration of full democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom.

The 11-hour curfew was imposed from 9 am after the capital witnessed violent protests yesterday in which dozens of people were injured, officials said.

Tens of thousands of people hit the streets defying the curfew yesterday, leading to police firing rubber bullets and tear gas shells on the protesters.

King Gyanendra's Friday night address to the nation in which he announced that he would hand over executive power to people did not prevent the protesters from demonstrating against his rule.

People to observe tolerance and maintain peace

However, political parties have urged people to observe tolerance and maintain peace and non-violence, keeping up with the spirit of the movement for restoration of democracy. They also cautioned people against possible infiltration by government-sponsored vigilants in peaceful rallies.

Most of the shops still remained closed and vehicles were off the road as people started gathering at different corners of the capital today despite heavy deployment of security forces to control the situation.

The mobile phone services, suspended by the government yesterday, have not yet been resumed. The seven-party alliance, which launched an indefinite general strike against King Gyanendra's rule, rejected the monarch's offer to form a government.

The alliance has been demanding reinstatement of Parliament and a commitment to hold constituent assembly election, party sources said. Anti-King demonstrations were held in major cities across Nepal yesterday.