Maoists plan massive protest in Nepal capital

KATHMANDU (AFP) – Nepal's Maoists pledged Wednesday to bring hundreds of thousands of activists onto the streets of the capital in the latest stage of a two-week protest against the government.

Party leaders said the protesters would blockade all ministry buildings on Thursday and Friday in an attempt to bring the government to a standstill.

"We are planning to bring at least 300,000 people onto the streets to surround Singha Durbar during office hours for the next two days," senior Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai told reporters.

The Singha Durbar complex in the heart of Kathmandu is the main administration building where all the ministries are situated.

Nepal's Maoist-led government fell in May after the president halted their attempt to sack the head of the army, and the party is holding a fortnight of nationwide protests against the new administration.

The Maoists, who fought a 10-year civil war against the state before winning landmark elections in 2008, want the president to apologise for preventing the army chief's removal -- a move they say was unconstitutional.

On Tuesday, they blocked all roads in and out of Kathmandu, while smaller protests have taken place in other parts of the country.

"We won't let any government ministers and officials enter the building on Thursday and Friday. It will be a peaceful protest and we will celebrate it as a festival," said Bhattarai.

Authorities in Kathmandu had earlier announced plans to expand the area around Singha Durbar, in which protests are banned.

But they backed down after the Maoists said they would defy the new rules.

"We have revoked our decision in order to stop possible violence," said local official Bhola Shivakoti.