Maoist activists on Tuesday blocked all roads in and out of Nepal's capital Kathmandu in the latest stage of a two-week protest against the government. Riot police stood on guard as hundreds of activists waving Maoist flags rallied at the main entry and exit points to the capital, but an AFP reporter at the scene said the protest appeared peaceful.
"We want to hold a peaceful protest to reiterate our commitment to democracy," party worker Prakash Acharya told AFP. "In a democracy, peaceful protest should be allowed." Their protest will continue on Thursday and Friday with a blockade of government buildings in the capital.