Protests banned in Nepalese capital

Local officials in the Nepalese capital have banned protests by the communist party planned for December 2, state-run media reported on Wednesday.
The Kathmandu district administration office has barred public meetings, processions, sit-ins and strikes in four areas of the city in an effort to head off the planned protests, the Gorkhaptra newspaper reported.
On Tuesday, the Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist and Leninist (NCP-ML) and six other opposition parties announced they would begin a month-long series of protests starting Friday when King Gyanendra returns from an overseas tour.
The NCP-ML Wednesday rejected the ban and said it would proceed with the demonstrations.
"The programme will be held at the same venue and the party appeals to the public to participate in the programme that day," it said in a statement. "The present government whose legitimacy is under question has no right to stop the constitutional right of the people to assemble peacefully and hold protests."