Across Asia: Nepal

Maoists block roads

Nepal's former Maoist rebels, waving hammer-and-sickle flags, blocked roads to the capital yesterday in protest at the reinstatement of the army chief, the first time they have taken such action since the end of the civil war three years ago.

The Maoist-led government fired the army chief, General Rookmangud Kawatal, in May saying he had refused to take orders. The move was reversed by the president and prompted the Maoists to quit the government and plunged the country into crisis.