Nepal puts security forces on high alert

Thousands of police and armed forces mobilized across the country Wednesday, said Information Minister Shanker Pokhrel. In the capital Katmandu, hundreds of police guarded the district chief's office where supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal, commonly called Maoists, demonstrated.

"Puppet government, resign now," the protesters shouted while waving their red party flags.

The protests were peaceful and Maoist leaders said they were not planning any violence.

"We are protesting in all 75 districts of the country. It is peaceful and we will not provoke any violence," said Chandra Bahadur Thapa, a Maoist lawmaker.

The Maoists also said they have withdrawn plans to shut down the international airport on Nov. 10.

The former rebels have held anti-government protests for several months, the result of a political dispute that led the Maoist leader to resign as prime minister of the Himalayan nation and pull out of the ruling coalition.

The Maoists emerged from elections last year with the most seats and formed a coalition government with former guerrilla leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal as prime minister. But things turned sour when Dahal attempted to fire the army chief and was overruled by President Ram Baran Yadav — a member of the rival Nepali Congress party.

The Maoists accused the army chief of opposing the integration of thousands of former rebel fighters into the national army — a key component of the peace deal under which the Maoists laid down their arms three years ago. The communist fighters are still confined in U.N.-monitored camps.

Dahal resigned to protest the president's decision and the Maoists withdrew from the government. A new coalition government took over in May, and the former rebels began their demonstrations.

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