KATHMANDU: Nepal’s King Gyanendra marked the first anniversary on Wednesday of his seizure of power with a promise to push ahead with controversial local elections, as thousands of Maoist rebels launched attacks which killed 20 people.

A huge police presence thwarted plans by the political opposition, which has branded the anniversary a ‘black day’, to stage a mass protest rally in Kathmandu.

King Gyanendra’s speech drew an angry response from the parties sidelined by the king’s power grab, who said the aid-dependent country was being pushed further into chaos.

The defence ministry said some 4,000 Maoists attacked at least five targets in Palpa district, 400 kilometres west of Kathmandu, on Tuesday night.

“The bodies of four terrorists were found,” a statement said. “Four soldiers serving with the royal Nepalese Army and seven police personnel also died.”

The Maoists claimed many more police and troops had been killed and threatened further attacks.—AFP