National strike continues on day 5

The Maoists continued a national bandh (strike) for a fifth straight day on 6 May 2010. Clashes have occurred in several areas of the city, including in the Budanilkantha area, where a mob attacked a truck carrying water. Protesters are continuing to block roads in Kathmandu. The government is operating special buses to take Western tourists to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (VNKT/KTM) under police escort. The ongoing bandh, which has severely affected business activity in the country, has provoked a growing backlash. In the Saptari district, a local businessman attempted to torch a Maoist party office to protest the bandh. Talks between the Maoists and the two other major parties -- the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist (UPN-UML) -- have thus far failed to yield a power-sharing agreement. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has expressed his willingness to step down, though the governing coalition has ruled out any resignation until the Maoists end the bandh. The Maoists refused to end the bandh until the prime minister resigns. The United Nations Mission in Nepal has requested that the U.N. Security Council extend its mandate, which ends on 15 May, due to concerns that the peace process could collapse. Political tensions are likely to remain high in the coming weeks ahead of the 28 May deadline for Parliament to pass a new constitution.