Updates from Reuters Nepal capital's streets empty, troops patrol Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:23 AM BST By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepali police and troops patrolled deserted streets of the capital Kathmandu on Thursday as a curfew imposed to block a massive anti-monarchy protest went into effect. All roads of the city of 1.5 million were empty of traffic, residents said. Police pickets had been set up at every major intersection and troops were on patrol, they said. "I can't even see a dog on the street," said Manohar Acharya, a resident of the New Road business district. Despite warnings that violators will be shot, activists have vowed to defy the curfew and bring hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets. But there were no signs of any protests early in the day. "To protest peacefully is the fundamental and natural right of the people," said Krishna Prasad Sitaula, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress, the country's biggest political party. "The ban and curfew orders are undemocratic and unconstitutional. We will disobey and will hold our peaceful protest programme." Unlike previous times when curfews were imposed, journalists too have been told to stay indoors. It came into effect at 2 a.m. (2015 GMT Wednesday) and will last until 8 p.m. (1415 GMT). "Residents are urged not to come out of their premises and security forces could shoot curfew violators," a government statement issued on Wednesday evening said. At least eight people have been killed and hundreds wounded in police action against demonstrators since a seven-party alliance launched crippling protests against King Gyanendra 15 days ago to demand the restoration of multi-party democracy. Tens of thousands have attended protests every day in Kathmandu, but many more have demonstrated in district towns. A general strike, part of the campaign, has prevented the movement of goods and people across the impoverished landlocked nation. The parties have called for mass rallies on Thursday and have predicted hundreds of thousands will attend. The latest deaths came in the town of Chandragadi, 600 km (375 miles) east of Kathmandu, where security forces opened fire on protesters on Wednesday, killing two people. Witnesses said dozens of others were wounded and more might have died.