Nepal strike passes off peacefully

KATHMANDU: A strike called to oppose the November 19 elections in Nepal went off peacefully even as traffic stayed off the roads and businesses were shuttered across the country.

Over 30 political parties had called for the strike for which over a lakh policemen were deployed.

Police spokesman Ganesh K C said 80 people trying to enforce the shutdown were arrested. "Two buses and four cars were burnt and nine cars had their windscreens smashed while 11 bomb scares were reported,'' he said.

The organizers of the bandh have called a week-long transport strike starting Tuesday. "The security arrangements will remain in place during the so-called transport strike," said Ganesh.

Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist led coalition of 33 political parties that broke away from the Prachanda-led UCPN (Maoist) has been calling for the resignation of the government and the postponement of the elections.

"Elections are being held under the grand design of foreign forces and these elections will not deliver democracy," said CPN-Maoist spokesman Pampha Bhusal. "Elections being held without the involvement of the 33 parties will not be successful." She said the strike was 99.9% successful.

The campaigning for the 601-member constituent assembly-cum-parliament has peaked even as observers say no party is expected to get a clear majority.