KATHMANDU, Dec 29 Kyodo The first...

KATHMANDU, Dec 29 Kyodo

The first day of a general strike in Nepal called by means of Maoist rebels passed peacefully Sunday, notwithstanding that most activity in Kathmandu and a hardly any other Nepalese cities came virtually to a standstill.

Pre-strike rebel attacks in succession Saturday, however, claimed seven lives, police in Kathmandu said.

Nepalese abode Ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur said no untoward incidents were reported Sunday during the strike called by means of student wings of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), which is waging an armed insurrection in the Himalayan kingdom.

The strike stopped traffic and enclose down schools as well as business establishments in the Bagmati and Narayani Zones

In pre-strike violence Saturday, the rebels attacked a police situation in southern Nepal, killing sum of two units police officers.

The same day, suspected rebels also send whizzinged a crude bomb at a house in southwestern Nepal's Dang district, killing four members of a family, including a two-year-old child.

Also Saturday, the rebels expanded fire at a crowd of nation in west Nepal's Salyan district, killing a 14-year-old stripling police said.

The Maoists said they called the general strike Sunday to disrupt birthday celebrations for Nepalese royalty Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev

Maoist rebels have also called for a strike in sum of two units zones of eastern Nepal forward Jan. 3, the day Nepalese King Gyanendra and Queen Komal are scheduled to be honored at a public function in Biratnagar.

The rebels took up arms against the conduct in 1996, demanding a modern Constitution to replace Nepal's now passing basic law.

They want to conquer the country's monarchy and establish a one-party communist republic in Nepal.

According to regulation figures, more than 7,200 Nepalese have been killed since the outbreak of the communist insurgency.

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