Nepal: Soldier patrols foil blockade plan
12/02/2005 - 10:39:35Hundreds of soldiers patrolled highways across Nepal today to foil a planned blockade by communist rebels to protest against the king’s emergency rule.
Roads leading to and from the capital Katmandu were quieter than normal, a police official said.
Many residents are fearful of the rebels, who in the past have torched dozens of vehicles and planted mines on highways to enforce blockades.
The Maoist rebels ordered the indefinite blockade of major highways to protest at King Gyanendra’s February 1 decision to dismiss the government, suspend civil liberties and form a new Cabinet under his own chairmanship. His move caused an international outcry.
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