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The Call for Freedom in Nepal

For two weeks, the tiny Himalayan country of Nepal has been rocked by strikes and violent protests. On Thursday, security forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of pro-democracy protesters marching to Kathmandu, Nepal's capital. At least three people were killed and more than 40 were injured. The crowd of about 30,000 broke a government curfew to take part in the march.

In 2005, the country's king, Gyanendra, took absolute control of the government. At the time, he said he needed to reduce citizen's rights and impose curfews to fight rebels.

On Friday, Gyanendra said he was handing political power back to citizens. "Executive power shall from this day be returned to the people," he announced on television and radio.

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