Anti government protests continued for the 12th consecutive day across the country today with sporadic incidents of violence reported. One person died and several were injured in the mid western town of Nijgad in Bara district where the Royal Nepal Army personnel fired at protestors trying to burn an effigy representing the present government. The RNA public relations department has not confirmed the report yet according to himalkhabar.com.

In Kathmandu where the prolonged strike has led to shortage of food and fuel sky rocketing the normal prices, protests took place in various parts of the Valley but with much less public turnout than the previous days. The effects of the strike on the general public are now being felt as more people express solidarity whether physically or simply by offering moral support for the movement. In the capital fuel scarcity has caused long lines outside stations, garbage remained unpicked on the streets, the price of essential commodities have shot up, and mass public transportation has come to a halt causing people to walk to work.

News of senior Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattrai and chairman of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Surya Bahadur Thapa being called by King Gyanendra today sparked rumors of important announcements however the two leaders did not specify what the kings reaction was to their suggestions after the meetings. Bhattarai who has always spoken against a constituent assembly said he suggested immediately implementing the present constitution while Thapa only said, I did what the Nepali people would have expected of me, that is give the king a complete summary of the real situation and he listened to me very carefully. Replying to questions from the press about whether he was made any offers Thapa replied, Will making anyone a prime minister solve the problem?