Foreign Ministry issues Nepal warning
Ministry warns Israeli backpackers of renewed violence in Nepal after Maoist rebels declare end to ceasefire
The Foreign Ministry on Friday warned Israeli backpackers of the renewed violence in Nepal, with the Maoist rebels declaring an end to the ceasefire.
A Ministry statement said the Nepalese government has imposed a curfew in several areas, adding that those breaking the curfew at this stage are risking their lives.
The ministry suggested that Israelis traveling to Nepal refrain from coming near demonstrations and follow the developments in the country.
Suspected communist rebels attacked two security checkpoints in western Nepal on Friday. In a second attack, two policemen were killed on the outskirts of town and five were reported missing, a police official reached by telephone said.
Several police have been killed or wounded in Nepal since Jan. 2, when the rebels ended a four-month unilateral cease-fire. The group said they halted the cease-fire because the government failed to reciprocate.
The guerrillas, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, began fighting in 1996 to replace the constitutional monarchy with a socialist state. The insurgency has claimed about 12,000 lives.
King Gyanendra assumed direct rule in February after accusing the previous administration of failing to contain the insurgency.
Thousands of troops fanned across the Nepalese capital Friday to enforce a government curfew ordered to foil a planned protest rally against Gyanendra.
More than 12,000 people have died
About 15,000 army soldiers and policemen were guarding and patrolling the streets of Katmandu and the suburb of Lalitpur to enforce the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew.
The government said it could not allow the planned protest rally organized by Nepal's seven major political parties to take place because of information there would be violence by communist rebels.
The government also placed at least five top opposition leaders under house arrest for 90 days, sending troops to surround their homes, the National Human Rights Commission said.
More than 12,000 people have died in the "people's war" waged by the Maoists since 1996 to topple the monarchy and establish a communist republic.
News agencies contributed to the report
