KATHMANDU: Nepal's Royal government clamped daytime curfew for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday amidst reports of serious differences among cabinet members over the policy towards agitating pro-democracy parties.
The curfew has been imposed from midnight to 5 pm. Largescale protests were expected to take place during the day with the seven-party alliance for restoration of democracy saying that their struggle will not end without the King returning sovereign power to the people.
With the indefinite strike entering the sixth day, life continued to be crippled in Kathmandu valley.
Prices of vegetables, fruits and foodgrains have spiralled and sales have dropped to 50 per cent in the capital's main fruits and vegetable market at Kalimati.
People rushed to the market to accumulate daily necessities as the curfew relaxed in the morning. As the royal government faced flak from the UN and the US over the harsh action against demonstrators, a senior cabinet minister's party has asked the government to initiate a dialogue with the opposition parties.
