January 27, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 07, 1428

KATHMANDU, Jan 26: Daytime curfews were imposed on five towns in southeastern Nepal on Friday after several deaths and dozens of injuries during violent protests in the impoverished region, officials said.

“The situation is very tense. Police have fired warning shots in the air again to disperse crowds. They are fighting to bring the situation under control,” said local administrator Madhav Prasad Regmi from Janakpur, 375 kilometres southeast of Kathmandu.

The violent protests began last week after a 16-year-old boy was shot dead during a scuffle between Maoists and activists from the Mahadhesi community which is demanding increased political representation in the Himalayan nation.

“Mahadhesi people are attacking people from the hill regions in their homes and businesses,” said Regmi.

Officials in the area said at least 35 protesters were injured on Thursday in Janakpur, and at least 20 more hurt in Birgunj, another of the five towns under curfew along with Biratnagar, Lahan and Gaur.

Protests earlier this week left at least five demonstrators dead.

The leader of the group organising the protests warned that unless Nepal's government addressed their complaints, the unrest would continue.

“If they try to ignore the issue, the protests will have dire consequences,” Upendra Yadav, chairman of the Mahadhesi Janadhikar Forum said.

Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has called on the group to begin talks and the Mahadhesi leader urged Koirala to name a date.

The English-language Nepali Times also warned that Nepal would be moving from one civil war to another -- if it failed to tackle the issue.—AFP