NEPALESE security forces were on high alert yesterday as the country’s constituent assembly prepared to vote on a new constitution.

Assembly members are due to vote on the final draft of the document today, after more than 40 people have been killed in weeks of protests against certain clauses.

The new constitution will replace the interim charter adopted in 2007, following the overthrow of the monarchy and the victory of the ­Communist Party Of Nepal (Maoist) in parliamentary elections.

Hindu groups have rioted over its definition of the country as a secular state, while some ethnic groups are also unhappy with the boundaries of the seven proposed federal provinces.

Two bombs exploded at churches in the eastern town of Jhapa around midnight on Monday, although no-one was hurt.

But three officers were injured when a bomb brought to a police station exploded on on Tuesday morning.

The same day, police killed four protesters when they attacked a 160-lorry convoy travelling under police escort south-west of Kathmandu, along a major freight route from India.

“Police were forced to open fire because the protesters attacked them from all directions,” police official Rajendra Dhakal said.

“They had already vandalised several vehicles in the convoy,”

On Monday, the US urged government “restraint” and a Republican member of Congress claimed that the new constitution would restrict religious freedom.

“We urge citizens to engage through peaceful, non-violent means and call on the Nepali security forces to exercise restraint in responding to protests,” a US State Department statement said.