Nepal protests hit tourist area

Hundreds of restaurant and hotel workers and trekking and travel agents staged protests in the popular Thamel district for the first time.

Opposition parties are calling on Nepalis to stop paying taxes as part of their attempts to oust the king, who seized power 14 months ago.

A general strike across the country is now in its 11th day.

Since the protests began, thousands of people have taken part in pro-democracy marches in towns and cities across the country.

But correspondents say the protest in the tourist heartland of the capital, where many Nepalis never venture, is highly unusual.

"It's something that has had to be done in the country for a very long time"
Amy Busteed,
Australian tourist

Police arrested a handful of demonstrators, as others marched through the alleyways filled with backpacker hotels, bars, souvenir shops and travel agencies.

They shouted slogans against the king, and placed burning tyres at the main junction.

Protesters told the BBC the monarch's direct rule was ruining their business sector. Many tourists watched as the demonstrations took place.

"I am scared but also enjoying it," Margot van Melle, from Belgium, told Reuters news agency.

"It's something that has had to be done in the country for a very long time," said Australian tourist Amy Busteed.

But she told Reuters the demonstrations had prevented the shops from opening and tourists from travelling on to other destinations.

Other demonstrations were held elsewhere in the city, where public gatherings are banned.

About 20 people were arrested during a protest by journalists demanding press freedom and the release of about 20 of their colleagues who were detained at a similar protest on Saturday.

Prices rise

Meanwhile, a joint committee of the seven opposition parties that have called the general strike said it was raising its demands on the people, requesting citizens and businesses to withhold income tax and not to pay water, electricity and telephone bills.

A senior member of the committee, Arjun Narasingha KC, told the BBC that the people would have to suffer for a few days for the sake of democracy.

The effects of the general strike have begun to bite, with long queues of motorcyclists waiting for up to three hours at the few petrol stations able to supply fuel.

Prices of basic foods have also started to rise, and some vendors reported fresh foods were going out of stock, and the price of onions increasing four-fold.

The king said on Friday he would open up a dialogue with the seven-party opposition and hold elections, but the opposition said the offer contained nothing new and protests would continue.

It has been campaigning for the immediate restoration of democracy and return of representative government.

Four people have been shot dead by police since the protests began.

King Gyanendra, the world's only Hindu monarch, has said he was forced to seize power in February 2005 because of the growing Maoist insurgency that has killed more than 10,000 people since 1996.

He has faced severe international criticism, from countries including the US and Nepal's neighbour India.