Scuffles as police try to disperse Maoist protesters

(20 Dec 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of riot police blocking Maoist protesters
2. Mid of protesters chanting slogans against the president
3. Various of riot police with shields and batons, scuffling with protesters
4. Tracking shot of riot police with batons, beating protester
5. Mid of riot police with shields and batons kneeling down, blocking the streets
6. Wide of riot police and protesters throwing stones at each other
7. Riot police stepping back, protester throwing stone at police
8. Riot police chasing protesters with batons, more stones being thrown at police
9. Wide of riot police with shields and batons kneeling down, guarding the streets
STORYLINE
Supporters of Nepal's former Maoist rebels clashed with riot police, attacked vehicles, forced shops to close and blocked highways across the country on Sunday to enforce a general strike called to protest the president.
The Maoists called the three-day strike to protest Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, whom they accuse of acting unconstitutionally after he overturned the previous government's decision to fire the army chief.
A police spokesman said 67 protesters were arrested.
Maoist supporters clashed with police in two separate locations in the capital, Katmandu.
The protesters blocked the main streets in the city and threw stones at officers, who retaliated by firing tear gas and beating them with bamboo batons.
Six officers were injured, including one who was in critical condition with head injuries, the police spokesman said.
About two dozen protesters were injured.
Those arrested were accused of vandalising vehicles that took to the streets and defied the general strike, which began on Sunday, the police spokesman also said.
Political tensions have been high in Nepal since a Maoist-led government resigned in May amid the dispute with Yadav over the army chief's refusal to incorporate former Maoist rebels fighters into the military.
Since then, the former rebels have protested the president in the streets and in parliament.
The Maoists gave up their armed revolt in 2006 to join a peace process.
They have since confined their fighters in camps monitored by the United Nations and joined mainstream politics.
They contested elections last year and won the most seats in parliament.

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