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 12 October 2008 13:51 BST

Maoist activists shot dead by security forces in Nepal

Wednesday, 09 Apr 2008 12:25
At least seven people have been shot dead by security forces in Nepal
At least six Maoist activities and one protester have been shot dead by security forces in Nepal.

Another 15 people were injured during fresh violence on the eve of landmark elections.

Unrest has been triggered in the country by the killing of communist election candidate Rishi Raj Sharma near the town of Nepalgunj yesterday.

Thursday's election is the first since 1999 and follows the Maoists' decision in 2006 to give up their ten-year armed struggle against Nepal's government which left around 13,000 people dead.

It is hoped the elections will pave the way for a rewriting of the country's constitution and an abolition of the monarchy.

Fears remain however that voting tomorrow will neither be safe nor fair: "For the peace process to be successful, the election needs to be credible. It's not clear that it will be," said Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of a local newspaper.

Reports today claim the Maoist rebels were shot by armed police during a confrontation with youths employed by a local candidate from a rival party.

Conflicting claims have been released regarding the cause of the incident with a local Maoist leader claiming his party had detained more than 40 youths who he claims were being used by a candidate of the Nepali Congress party for electoral malpractice.

However, government officials claim the rebels had tried to attack a vehicle carrying the congress member.End of story


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