Nepal's king cracks down ahead of strike

KATHMANDU - Nepal's royalist government has detained dozens of activists and politicians and imposed an indefinite night curfew in Kathmandu to scuttle a general strike planned against King Gyanendra's seizure of power last year.

Nepal's seven main political parties have joined Maoist insurgents to call for a four-day nationwide strike from Thursday and a day of protest on Saturday, the anniversary of the day multi-party democracy was established 16 years ago in the Himalayan nation.

King Gyanendra's government has banned rallies in Kathmandu, the center of the campaign, and vowed to crush any protests, saying Maoist rebels would use them to infiltrate the capital.

It also imposed a night curfew in Kathmandu and the neighbouring temple town of Lalitpur.

"The curfew has been imposed to maintain law and order and protect life as Maoist rebels are expected to create trouble," a Home (interior) Ministry official said.

In New York, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed concern about what he saw as a brewing confrontation, his chief spokesman said.

- REUTERS