At least three people were killed and several injured when Nepalese police opened fire on protesters who broke a curfew in Kathmandu to demand King Gyanendra give up power.
Three bodies with gunshot wounds and around 40 injured people were brought to the Kathmandu Model Hospital, medical staff said.
Earlier, witnesses said police had opened fire to push back thousands of protesters attempting to enter city limits from the western Kalanki suburb in violation of the curfew order
The curfew was imposed to block the pro-democracy rally, and security forces were given orders to shoot violators. But activists said they would not be prevented from holding the rally to force King Gyanendra to restore multi-party democracy.
In the Maharajgunj suburb, riot police backed by soldiers armed with automatic rifles faced about 20,000 people singing revolutionary songs.
Women with children in their arms were in the crowd and residents were throwing water from balconies overhead to cool down the demonstrators on a hot sunny day.
Unlike previous times when curfews were imposed, journalists too have been told to stay indoors. The ban came into effect at 9.15 pm and will last until 2.15pm today.
At least eight people have been killed and hundreds wounded in police action against demonstrators since a seven-party alliance launched crippling protests against King Gyanendra 15 days ago to demand the restoration of multi-party democracy.