Maoists End Crippling General Strike in Nepal, Street Protests to Continue

Source: VOA

Nepal's former rebels, facing intense domestic and diplomatic pressure, have agreed to "temporarily" halt their six-day strike that crippled commerce throughout the struggling Himalayan nation. But the Maoists say their street protests will continue until their demands are met, including the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who enjoys little public support.

Hours after Kathmandu's middle class took to the streets to vent their frustration with the Maoist's indefinite strike, the former rebels gave up - for the time being, at least - that part of their civil disobedience campaign.

Maoist party chairman and previous prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal says, however, that other street action by tens of thousands of cadres and supporters will continue.

Dahal, better known as Prachanda, tells reporters the Maoists, in Kathmandu, will continue to picket and demonstrate around the Singha Durbar (Lion Palace), where most government ministries are located. Protests will also continue, he says, at 75 government headquarters across the country.


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