5 Explosions Rock Nepal’s Capital, 3 Die
Five explosions rocked King Birendra’s palace, government offices and a tourist hotel in downtown Katmandu today, killing three people--including a member of the Nepalese parliament--and injuring 15.
Two of the injured were said to be American tourists. Soldiers were deployed around the capital after the explosions, which followed several weeks of agitation for an end to a 25-year-old ban on political activity.
Telex links with the Himalayan kingdom sandwiched between China and India were cut and details of the blasts were sketchy.
Palace Wall Collapsed
But authoritative reports received through diplomats in New Delhi said two of the bombs went off at the gates of the royal palace, collapsing a wall but causing no injuries. They said the king was never in danger.
Witnesses said one explosion went off at the gates of the government building that houses all government ministries, another went off at the entrance to the national assembly and a third in the lobby of the Hotel Annapurna, which is frequented by Western tourists.
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