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KATHMANDU, Aug 20 (AFP): Protestors burnt tyres and disrupted traffic for a second day in Nepal's capital to protest at a rise in the price of gasoline and other fuel Police said they broke up demonstrations throughout the city of 1.5 million as hundreds burned tyres and shouted slogans against the government here Sunday. They said at least six vehicles were vandalised.
No injuries were reported and police did not make arrests even after rock-throwing protestors broke windows at the home of Madhav Kumar Nepal, head of the Communist Party of Nepal.
"Police have been deployed at major intersections to control the crowd and the situation is under control," police officer Dhak Bahadur Karki said.
Businesses in the city shut Saturday and Sunday because of the protests.
The new government which came to power in April, after King Gyanendra gave up absolute rule, decided Friday to raise fuel prices by as much as 25 percent to halt losses at state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation.
Gyanendra gave up absolute rule after weeks of mass street protests organised by the parties in concert with Maoist rebels who have waged a decade-old insurgency to topple the monarchy.
The new government and the rebels are now engaged in a peace process.
The economy has already been hit hard this year by frequent strikes and traffic blockades organised by the Maoists.
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