9 seconds ago 2009-12-11T17:04:22-08:00
KATHMANDU (AFP) – Riot police in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Thursday used tear gas and batons to disperse Maoist activists protesting against the government, an AFP reporter witnessed.
Thousands of Maoist activists gathered outside the main government headquarters in Kathmandu, and police said the protesters had tried 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.
Local television said one person had been injured in the clash.
The Maoists are staging a two-day blockade of the government headquarters as part of a series of nationwide protests.
They are protesting against the coalition government that replaced the Maoist-led administration that fell in May following a row with the president.
