Uneasy Calm in Nepal's Capital After Deadly Protests

Singaporeans advised to defer non-essential travel to Nepal

- Daniel Lai

KATHMANDU - Soldiers guarded Nepal's Parliament and patrolled deserted streets on Sept 10 amid a curfew in the capital Kathmandu, after two days of deadly anti-corruption protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.

The upheaval in the poor Himalayan nation was unleashed by a social media ban that was announced last week but rolled back after 19 people were killed on Sept 8 as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control crowds.

The death toll from the protests had risen to 25 by Sept 10, Nepal's Health Ministry said, while 633 were injured.

Nepal's army said relevant parties were coordinating to tackle the situation after the protests and resolve the issue.

The media also said preparations were being made for the authorities and protesters to hold talks, without giving details.

Reuters could not independently confirm the information.

Most of the protesters were young people voicing frustration at the perceived failure of the government to fight corruption and boost economic opportunities, leading to the demonstrations being dubbed the "Gen Z protests".

The young agitators want former chief justice Sushila Karki as the interim prime minister, Mr Raman Kumar Karna, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, told Reuters on Sept 10.