Gen Z ousts Oli as turmoil continues to engulf Nepal

Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday as protests against a short-lived ban on social media grew increasingly violent and expanded into broader criticism of his government and accusations of corruption among the Himalayan country's political elite.

- Agencies

The resignation appeared to have little effect on the demonstrations, labelled the “Gen Z protest” because they are helmed by young people. Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets late in the day, blocking roads, storming government buildings and setting them on fire, and, in some cases, attacking political leaders. Defence helicopters ferried some ministers to safe places, even as videos showed some members of the cabinet being chased down streets and beaten. The Nepal army said it will take charge of security operations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss the situation in Nepal and stressed that stability, peace and prosperity of the country are of utmost importance to India.

He called the violence heartrending and appealed to “my brothers and sisters in Nepal to support peace”. A day earlier, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped Nepal's capital, and police opened fire on the crowds, killing 19 people.

The ban was lifted on Tuesday, but the protests continued, fuelled by anger over the deaths and growing frustration with the political elite in the nation wedged between China and India.