Communist rebels and supporters protest in Nepalese capital

Tens of thousands of Communist rebels and their supporters rallied in the heart of Nepalese capital on Friday, waving red flags and chanting slogans against King Gyanendra. An estimated 200,000 people packed the Martyrs grounds in the center of Katmandu and surrounding streets in the first massive gathering of rebels in the past few years.

Photo: Communist rebels and supporters protest in Nepalese capital

Communist rebels and supporters protest in Nepalese capital

"Get rid of the royal regime. We want a republic state," chanted the rebels and their supporters as they began their march from six different points on the outskirts of the capital and merged at the grounds. Although the rebels helped oust Gyanendra's authoritarian government in April, they are calling for a special assembly to rewrite the constitution.

"We will continue our struggle, but we will achieve all our goals through peaceful means," said Prasanta, a senior rebel leader whose actual name is Janardan Sharma. The police banned big vehicles, including buses and trucks, from entering the city limits and all vehicles around the venue. A thick line of policemen in riot gear protected the royal palace and Singhadurabar, the walled complex with the prime minister's office and most ministries.

Rebel volunteers in red T-shirts were posted at the major intersection, directing both traffic and pedestrians. Though Friday is a religious holiday in Katmandu , the extra flow of traffic and people from outside the capital made the situation chaotic. News reports said the rebels seized hundreds of buses in other cities to ferry their supporters to Katmandu .

After joining forces to topple King Gyanendra's authoritarian government in April, the ruling alliance and the country's Maoist rebels appeared close to a solution to the decade-long civil war that has killed more than 13,000 people.

However, rebel spokesman Krishna Mahara on Thursday said the government's deployment of soldiers to major cities across Nepal in recent days violated a pledge with the rebels and could lead to a return to war. "The government is trying to push the country back to conflict," Mahara told reporters on Thursday.

He said the government was trying to reinstate old village councils in areas where the rebels had previously disbanded them. Government troops were also back on the streets patrolling, manning checkpoints on highways and even beating up some rebels, he said.

"This is against the code of conduct the sides have signed saying armed soldiers or fighters will not be mobilized," Mahara said. Nepal 's army said soldiers have been deployed in recent days in Katmandu and other major cities to help combat rising crime.

The rebels and government have agreed to hold a second round of peace talks, but a date has not yet been set. The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, began fighting in 1996 to establish a communist state.

Since both sides announced a cease-fire, they have held one round of peace talks last month in Katmandu . Meanwhile, King Gyanendra made his first public appearance on Friday since he was forced to give up power in April. He drove to the southern edge of the capital to take part in a chariot festival. His motorcade and the route were well guarded by the security forces, reports the AP.

N.U.