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Nepali Communist leader whisked away

Whereabouts of Madhav Nepal not known

KATHMANDU: Armed security forces on Thursday stormed the home of a top Opposition leader who was under house arrest and whisked him away to an unknown location, an official of the Communist Party of Nepal said.

Officials refused to give the whereabouts of party secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who had been under house arrest for two months, said Amrit Bohara, a party colleague.

``This is another criminal act by the authoritarian government and an example of jungle rule in this country,'' Mr. Bohara said.

Students and activists protested across Kathmandu on Thursday to demand the leader's release. Students burned tyres and raised anti-government slogans outside about a half-dozen colleges in the Nepalese capital. Party supporters also rallied.

Police made no arrests and there were no reports of major scuffles.

Security forces placed Mr. Nepal under house arrest on January 20 during a royal Government crackdown on Opposition activists to prevent protests against King Gyanendra's rule.

Police have surrounded his house since his arrest but have mostly stayed outside. — AP

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