The government of Nepal clamped a daylight curfew Monday on Kathmandu in a bid to halt weekend protests that killed three people.
It was the third day in a spike of protests by Maoist rebels and the opposition to end of the direct rule imposed by King Gyanendra 15 months ago, the BBC said. He took power 14 months ago, accusing political parties of being ineffective at quelling the insurgency.
Radio Nepal reported an e-mail statement signed by two leading Maoist rebels said their forces would take control of the country's roads and destroy royal statues during a national strike. The statement said rebels would observe a cease-fire around Kathmandu during the strike.
Some 13,000 people have died since the Maoist insurgency began and new attacks left at least five people dead Friday.
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