May 10, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1424

KATHMANDU, May 9: Five political parties in Nepal staged a nationwide “black flag” demonstration on Friday as part of campaign against King Gyanendra for his sacking of the elected prime minister.

In the capital Kathmandu, more than 1,000 people marched through the streets carrying symbolic black flags and anti-monarchy placards. Similar protests were reported from other towns. There was a heavy police presence in the city, but there no reports of any trouble, police sources said.

On Thursday the parties said they were launching an indefinite campaign of street protests to protest the king’s “unconstitutional” sacking of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in October.—AFP