“Historic demonstration” in Kathmandu, Hundreds of thousands of people march along the Ring Road (news update 4:15 p.m.)

Hundreds of thousands of people are demonstrating along the Ring Road and other parts of the capital on Friday by defying curfew orders, reports say.

A huge crowd of people broke several barricades set up by the police along the Ring Road and has reached Kalanki area from Maharajgunj, reports say. A journalist on the scene said the number of demonstrations could be as much as 300,000. The demonstrators are now marching along the 27-km Ring Road.

Latest reports say security personnel have fired rubber bullets at Satdobato, Khumaltar area. At least half a dozen demonstrators and two police have been reportedly injured during clashes.

Tens of thousands of people have also assembled at Chabahil and Gwarko area, according to reports.

Demonstrators have burnt the police beat of Kalanki and have declared the area as “Loktantrik chowk” ( democratic chowk).

Krishna Gautam, a human rights activist affiliated to INSEC, told Nepalnews over phone that the mood of the demonstrators is defiant. “Security personnel too look rather restrained today,” he said.

At least three demonstrators had been killed at Kalanki area and over 100 others injured when security personnel opened fire at demonstrators in different parts of the capital on Thursday.

The pro-democracy activists are defying curfew orders for the second day Friday and are demanding that king Gyanendra give up his absolute powers. nepalnews.com by Apr 21 06

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