Katmandu, Nepal
Nepal was virtually cut off from the world this week after King Gyanendra dissolved the parliament and announced a state of emergency. Complaining that the government had failed to organize elections on time, Gyanendra ordered all roads closed, planes grounded, and telephone and Internet lines cut. Nepal’s elected prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, was placed under house arrest, his home surrounded by troops. “We will oppose this step,” Deuba declared. “The move directly violates the constitution and is against democracy.” The king tried to remove Deuba once before, in 2002, but was forced to reinstate him after mass protests. Nepal has only had a legitimate parliament since 1990. The country has been in turmoil since a palace massacre, three years ago, killed the previous king, Gyanendra’s older brother, along with 10 family members.
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