Any update from Nepal?

Bhattarai rejects premiership offer
20 April | 1.07 PM NST
From Issue #295 (21 April 06 - 27 April 06) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

Senior Nepali Congress leader and former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was reportedly offered the post of prime minister but the ageing leader refused saying this was not the right time, according to sources. Meanwhile the Indian prime minister's special envoy, Dr Karan Singh was scheduled to meet King Gyanendra at 11 AM today.

अपडेट (दिउँसो 205) कलंकीमा सुरक्षाकर्मीले गोली चलाएको छ। अन्धाधुन्ध गोली। अहिलेसम्म गोली चलिरहेको छ। कर्फ्यु क्षेत्रभन्दा बाहिर पनि गोली हानिएको छ। गोली पनि सिसाको हैन। एम्बुलेन्स पनि चल्न दिइएको छैन। घाइतेहरु अलपत्र छन् रे। ५० भन्दा बढी घाइते छन् रे। स्थानीय मेडिकलमा घाइतेहरु अलपत्र छन्। घटनास्थलमा रहनुभएका स्नेह सायमिका अनुसार कलंकी पूरै युध्दग्रस्त क्षेत्र जस्तो बनेको छ। अहिले पनि प्रहरी अलि अगाडि बढ्यो भने लखेट्ने काम भइरहेको छ। लाखौंको संख्यामा मानिसहरु आएका छन्। चापागाउँबाट आएको जुलुसमा पनि गोली हानिएको छ। ग्वार्कोमा पनि गोली चलेको छ। प्रहरीले घाइतेलाई अस्पताल लान पनि दिएको छैन।

source: http://www.mysansar.com/?cat=17

http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Nepalturmoil&slug=Thousands+rally+for+democracy+in+Nepal&id=19217&callid=0&category=International

Thursday, April 20, 2006 (Kathmandu):


Nearly one lakh people have defied the 18-hour curfew in Kathmandu and have come out on the streets to join an opposition sponsored pro-democracy rally.

The government had issued shoot-at-sight orders in the capital.

The curfew came into effect at 2:00 am (local tinme) and will be in place till 8:00 pm.

The government has already banned all public meetings and has doubled the detention period for human rights campaigners and opposition politicians who are in jail.

Two protestors were killed in the southeast Jhapa district in police firing on Wednesday. At least eight people have died in the violent pro-democracy protests in the country.

Softening of stand

In indications of a softening of stand, King Gyanendra has reportedly renewed his offer of the prime minister's post to Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

The King is believed to have sent a palace emissary to meet Bhattarai, who has turned down the offer.

There are also reports that the King may address the nation tonight and renew his offer of talks with political parties.

But the parties are unlikely to accept such an offer. They want the monarch to set a date and name a venue for the talks.