Nepal schools disrupted by strike

The strike was preceded by attacks on some schools

By Sushil Sharma BBC correspondent in Kathmandu

School and college classes in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, and neighbouring areas have been disrupted by a strike.

Schools and colleges remained open, but normal classes were not held.

The school and college authorities had asked students to stay home - apparently for security reasons.

The Maoist rebels student wing called the two-day strike to protest what it says is the commercialisation of education.

The Revolutionary All Nepal National Independent Students' Union is also calling for drastic reforms in education system and better facilities in public schools.

Violent prelude

Bomb explosions had rocked some schools and the government's education offices ahead of the strike.

Maoist rebels want reforms in education (Unesco picture)

Pro-Maoist students said that they planted the bombs.

No-one was injured in the explosions nor was major damage reported, but the blasts did cause alarm.

The Revolutionary All Nepal National Independent Students' Union has warned that the agitation will be intensified if the government ignores its demands.

The government branded the Maoist student wing a terrorist organisation last year, after it outlawed the underground Maoist Communist Party.

The Maoists have been waging an armed struggle to replace the constitutional monarchy with a communist republic.

Some 5,000 people have been killed since the Maoist insurgency was launched six years ago.