Nepal's police arrest scores of anti-royal protesters

Police have arrested protesters in Nepal, demonstrating against King Gyanendra. The demonstrations were the most serious since the King dismissed the government and seized power last month, but they were quickly broken up by police.

Since the King took control, he has "suspended" even the most basic civil liberties, including freedom of thought, free speech and a free press. International human rights groups including Amnesty International have warned of a "human rights crisis".

Any form of protest against the King or his new government has also been banned. Until yesterday most opposition supporters had been too scared to take to the streets, and the few demonstrations that took place were poorly attended.

But protesters not only took to the streets, they marched past the Central Secretariat building in Kathmandu, that houses the Prime Minister's office, chanting: "Down with autocracy. We want democracy."

They got past police and army checkpoints by travelling incognito on Kathmandu's regular bus service. That they went to such lengths is an indication of the draconian rule Kathmandu is under. They blocked traffic for a few minutes before police dragged them into waiting vans. There are fears for the protesters' safety in custody, with reports of torture and even the killing of prisoners now routine in Nepal.

The Nepali Congress Party, the main opposition, claims that more than 100 were arrested, but with the press muzzled under strict censorship laws, the figures are difficult to confirm. Independent reports from Kathmandu suggest at least four dozen were arrested.

King Gyanendra claims he had to seize power because of the government's failure to defeat the Maoist rebels, who control large areas of Nepal and have advanced to 20 miles from Kathmandu. The conflict has already cost 10,000 lives.

But Britain and India, which along with the US are Nepal's main source of military aid, have suspended their assistance following the King's seizure of power, and called for the restoration of democracy.

While King Gyanendra's palace coup has been condemned internationally, protest inside Nepal has been muted. In part that is because opponents are afraid to speak up. While many Nepalis are unhappy at the suspension of their civil liberties, they have little time for the politicians King Gyanendra sacked, who are seen as corrupt.

The protests, however, show there is growing opposition to King Gyanendra's assault on human rights, and opposition parties say they hope to stage mass protests to coincide with the anniversary, on 8 April, of the demonstrations that forced Nepal's kings to give up power 15 years ago - until King Gyanendra took it back last month.

Meanwhile, India has deployed 20,000 more soldiers along its border with Nepal and Bhutan. Maoist rebels already control large areas of India, and Delhi fears they may form an alliance with Nepal's.