Nepal showdown over rebel strike

Lawyers and politicians call for peace

The Nepalese Government says it is prepared to shoot on sight anyone enforcing a five-day strike called by Maoist rebels due to start on Tuesday.

The strike - called in protest against the current state of emergency - looks set to be a show of strength between the two sides.

Public transport owners have been told they will lose their permits if they stay off the streets.

The moves come as the United States military experts are in Nepal advising the government on how to fight the rebels.

Students' protest

"Security forces have the order to shoot at sight anyone trying to enforce the strike or anyone involved in any disruptive acts," Junior Interior Security Minister Devendra Raj Kadel said, the Reuters news agency reports.

Police killed in a rebel attack

The government says it has mobilised its entire security apparatus to ensure the safety of its citizens as the Maoists try to bring the country to a standstill.

The strike was originally scheduled for the beginning of this month.

But the rebels postponed it to prevent disruption to students' end-of-year exams.

The rebel leader, Prachand, sent a fax to the media in Nepal on Monday urging the democratic opposition to the government to support the stoppage.

"I regret that all of the communist factions and pro-left lawmakers, instead of supporting the Maoist strike call, have appealed for its withdrawal, which would weaken our struggle," he said.

Drivers of buses, taxis and rickshaws face being forced out of business if they refuse to run their services during the strike.

In previous strikes, the rebels have attacked and set on fire buses that have been running.

The rebels have postponed the strike once

King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency in November after the rebels pulled out of peace talks and launched a wave of attacks.

Since then, the army has joined in operations against the rebels.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties in a series of encounters that have left hundreds dead.

The rebels are demanding the end of Nepal's constitutional monarchy.

Some 3,000 people have died since they launched their war six years ago.

Rash of bombings

The government has confirmed that US military officials are in Nepal to advise the government on how to end the insurgency.

Correspondents say this is the first time foreign military experts have been allowed to visit areas affected by the rebellion.

The US State Department has warned its citizens that Nepal has become more dangerous recently.

"The Maoists have recently begun carrying out a nightly rash of bombings and other acts of violence throughout the Kathmandu area," it said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the human rights group, Amnesty International, has called on both the security forces and Maoist rebels in Nepal to protect the lives of civilians during the strike.

Amnesty said it was particularly concerned about the wide powers given to Nepal's security forces, including shooting any violent demonstrator on sight.