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Nepal: New constitution provokes violent general strike

OPPOSITION politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker during a violent general strike in Nepal yesterday.
Strikers aim to block the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution.

The Constituent Assembly met at 2am yesterday and violence started when opposition members tried to stop Speaker Subash Nemwang proposing the formation of a questionnaire committee that would precede voting on the draft.

They hurled chairs, kicked over desks and tossed microphones at the speaker. Several security guards were injured in the tussle.

Nepal’s ruling coalition, which has the support of two-thirds of the 605 assembly members, plans to force through the draft tomorrow.

The alliance of 30 opposition parties called the general strike to protest and shut down schools, transportation and shops.
Supporters chanted anti-government slogans at rallies in the capital Kathmandu, clashed with police and set a dozen vehicles on fire.

Police detained about 50 protesters.

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