2 ex-ministers among 7 detained during Nepali protest

An activist of the Nepali Congress is arrested by a riot policeman as he shouts slogans during an anti-King protest demonstration at Ratnapark in Kathmandu yesterday. At least seven people were arrested by the riot police while staging an anti-monarchy protest in defiance of a ban on public rallies. PHOTO: AFP

Police pounced on the seven, all members of the Nepali Congress party, immediately they stepped out of a crowd and began shouting slogans such as "Down with reactionary forces", "Reinstate democracy" and "Long Live the Nepali Congress", the witnesses said.

The protestors, carrying Nepali Congress flags, staged the brief protest in the Ratna Park area of Kathmandu.

Among those picked up were former minister Mahadev Gurung and former junior minister Pushkar Ojha, the witnesses said.

Last week, at least 149 activists were arrested across Nepal for protesting against the king, joining scores of others already in detention for showing dissent.

"Restore democracy," and "Withdraw the royal proclamation of emergency", the protesters shouted as riot police detained them.

King Gyanendra fired the government, assumed absolute powers in the Himalayan kingdom and put political leaders under house arrest or in jail.

The monarch said the move was necessary to crush a nine-year Maoist revolt in which more than 11,000 people have died.

Human right groups and political parties say hundreds of politicians, journalists and human rights activists had been jailed as the king's move has been widely criticised.

Big anti-king rallies have not been possible due to heavy security and small protests have been quickly subdued.