Nepalese authorities have arrested at least 50 opposition leaders and activists, ahead of planned pro-democracy demonstrations on Friday. BBC Headline: Nepal cracks down on opposition Police kept a close watch on the capital as arrests were made Nepalese authorities have arrested at least 50 opposition leaders and activists, ahead of planned pro-democracy demonstrations on Friday. All telephone services in the capital, Kathmandu, were initially cut off and mobile phones are still not working. Nepal's opposition parties have said they will defy a new government ban on political rallies in the capital. The government has declared an indefinite ban on all rallies following recent rebel attacks. List of arrested as of 3 pm: Nepali Congress (Democratic): 1. Gopalman Shrestha 2. Bimalendra Nidhi 3. Prakash Sharan Mahat 4. Pradip Giri 5. Bal Krishna Khad 6. N.P. Saud 7. Umakant Chaudhari Janamorcha Nepal: 1. Pari Thapa 2. Krishna Lal Shrestha 3. Sri Govinda Maharjan 4. Bipendra Shrestha 5. Romlal Maharjan 6. Deep Ram Maharjan 7. Hari Maharjan 8. Tulasi Maharjan 9. Lilamani Pokhrel Nepal Majadura Kisan Party 1. Prem Suval 2. Narayan Man Bijukchu 3. Budi Kumar Gosai 4. Sunil Prajaprati CPN(UML) 1. Suvash Nemvanga 2. Pradip Nepal 3. Bidya Bhandari 4. Ishwor Pokhrel 5. Keshav Badal 6. Mukunda Neupane 7. Siddhi Lal Singh 8. Gokarna Bista 9. Yubaraj Gyawali 10. Rajendra Shrestha 11. Mahendra Pandey 12. Mitharam Sharma Bajagai 13. Bhim Rawal 14. Radhu Pant 15. Madhav Paudel 16. Krishna Gopal Shrestha 17. Pradip Gyawali 18. Ram Kumari Jhankri 19. Krishna Lal Maharjan 20. Asthalaxmi Shakya 21. Yubaraj Kharki 22. Aum Thapaliya 23. Yagendra Sangraula 24. Binod Shrestha 25. Rajendra Shrestha Nepali Congress: 1. Girija Prasad Koirala 2. Kiran Neupane 3. Ram Chandra Poudel 4. Ram Sharan Mahat 5. Chakra Prasad Bastola 6. Bal Dev Majangauya 7. Mani Pandey 8. Sujata Koirala 9. Dr. Sashank Koirala 10. Chandra Maharjan 11. Mahesh Shrestha 12. Kendranaraj Kafle 13. Yubaraj Singh 14. Ganesh Bhatta 15. Tika Gurung 16. Bhim Shirosh 17. Laxman Acharya 18. Aumkar Shrestha 19. Jagat Raj Shakya 20. Lekhnath Neupane 21. Gagan Thapa 22. Laxman Ghimire 23. Khum Bahadur Khadka 24. Binayadhyaj Chand 25. Mahesh Acharya 26. Shekhar Koirala 27. Hari Acharya 28. Prakash Rawal Human Rights Workers, Elders, and Civil Society Members: 1. Dr. Mathura P. Shrestha 2. Krishna Pahadi 3. Shyam Shrestha 4. Nilambar Acharya