Nepal's government has extended a curfew in the capital, Kathmandu, after anti-monarchy rallies that ended in the deaths of at least three protesters.

Security forces opened fire as at least 100,000 people defied a shoot-on-sight curfew to protest against the absolute rule of King Gyanendra.

Doctors say at least 40 others were injured, some seriously.

The king imposed direct rule in February 2005, saying the government had failed to defeat Nepal's Maoists.

The 18-hour curfew, imposed in the city centre to 200 metres beyond the ring road, was to have ended at 1415 GMT but has been extended by another seven hours.

Thursday's deaths were the first in the capital during two weeks of national strikes and protests by an alliance of seven opposition parties.

Sources at the hospital where the dead protesters were taken said police later seized the bodies and took them to a government hospital.

Ten people have been killed elsewhere since the strike began.

The defence ministry said another 26 people were wounded on Thursday when security forces opened fire on protesters in the town of Gulariya, 500km (310 miles) south-west of Kathmandu.

Also on Thursday the UN human rights body, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, accused the government of obstructing the deployment of its monitors in the Kathmandu Valley in "clear violation" of an agreement.

British ambassador to Nepal Keith Bloomfield told the BBC the situation was "deteriorating rapidly".

He said Indian envoy Karan Singh had held talks with King Gyanendra and delivered a "very tough message".

"We believe the complete restoration of democracy is an essential first step," Mr Bloomfield said. "If the king doesn't act immediately... the constitutional monarchy may no longer be on the table."

Mr Singh, who has returned to Delhi, said he was hopeful of a royal announcement soon that would "considerably defuse the situation".

The opposition alliance has called for another mass protest at the ring road on Friday.

Posted on: Apr 20, 2006

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