Anti-king protesters injured in Nepal

Police in Nepal have clashed with opposition supporters protesting against King Gyanendra's assumption of executive powers last year.

Torch-lit demonstrations took place in various towns and cities despite a government ban.

In the capital, Kathmandu, at least a thousand people took part and reports say several leading opposition figures of the Nepali Congress party were injured when police used batons to disperse the crowd.

A government statement said the protests could affect the ongoing peace talks aimed at resolving Nepal's seven-year Maoist insurgency.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service