Clashes in Nepal as frustration grows at shutdown

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BRUSSELS: British Foreign Secretary William Hague (left) speaking with his counterparts from the Netherlands Uriel Rosenthal (2nd left), from France Alain Juppe (2nd right) and from Sweden Carl Bildt prior a Foreign Affairs Council at the EU Headquarters

KATHMANDU, May 6 (AFP): Maoist protesters clashed with residents in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu Thursday as anger grew over a strike that has shut down much of the country for five days.
The Maoist party, which has the largest number of seats in parliament, is enforcing the general strike in an attempt to force the ruling coalition from office in a tactic that threatens to derail Nepal's fragile peace process.
"There have been some minor clashes between anti-Maoist demonstrators and Maoists," police spokesman Bigyan Raj Sharma said Thursday. "Police resorted to minimum use of force to bring the situation under control."
Furious locals in Budanilkantha, in the north of the city, tried to defy the Maoists, who have ordered all private and commercial vehicles off the streets and for all shops, offices and businesses to remain closed.
Police said they used tear gas to break up the fighting as Maoist supporters beat up locals frustrated at the shutdown.
The National Human Rights Commission, an autonomous official body, expressed concern over the increasing problems facing the public as talks between Maoists and the government failed to make progress.