Police clash with Maoist protesters in Nepal

KATHMANDU (AFP) – Riot police in Nepal's capital Thursday used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of Maoists who held their biggest anti-government protest since they lost power in May.

Thousands of activists chanting anti-government slogans and waving red flags blockaded the government compound in central Kathmandu from early morning, and police said violence broke out when demonstrators attempted to enter a prohibited area.

"We used force after the protesters tried to breach our security cordon," deputy superintendent of police Kanchha Bhandari told AFP, adding 14 rounds of tear gas were fired.

The protest brought government ministries to a virtual standstill, with most civil servants and ministers staying away from work for the day.

Police put the number of protesters at 16,000 although the Maoists said around 200,000 of their supporters had turned out, travelling to the capital from far-flung parts of the country.

"Nepal may have become a republic, but we have yet to achieve true people's rule," protester Shanchalal Waiba told AFP outside the Singha Durbar government complex.

"This protest may bring difficulties to the people in the short term, but in the long term it will bring a better future."

The Maoists won landmark elections last year and abolished the monarchy, but their government fell after just eight months when the president overruled their attempt to sack the head of the army.

The two-day blockade is part of a fortnight-long series of nationwide protests being held by the former guerrillas, who fought a decade-long civil war against the state that killed more than 16,000 people and ended in 2006.

The Maoists say the president's move was unconstitutional and are demanding an apology and a parliamentary debate on the role of the head of state.

Maoist leader and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda or "the fierce one", said the protesters' main aim was to restore "civilian supremacy" over the military.

"Our achievements have been hijacked and civilian supremacy has been hijacked. The main aim of our protest is to restore it," he told reporters outside the Singha Durbar complex.

"Unless the president's move is corrected, we will continue our protests."

The rally began in celebratory mood, with activists dancing and playing traditional music as they handed round dishes of rice and curry.

But the atmosphere later turned sour with one television station showing riot police using axes to destroy musical instruments left behind when the demonstrators fled their baton-charge.

The Maoists said four of its lawmakers were among 20 protesters injured in the clash with police, adding they were taken to hospital with minor injuries but later released and rejoined the rally.

Senior party members later addressed the cheering crowd from a makeshift platform surrounded by police in riot gear, declaring the day a success, before the protesters began to disperse.

"We have managed to stop ministers and civil servants from entering Singha Durbar. We will continue the protest on Friday with the same level of enthusiasm," said Maoist leader Janardan Sharma.