Nepalese Rally for Democracy

Hundreds of protesters attacked police with bricks and street signs in the Nepalese capital Saturday, leaving dozens injured, as 30,000 protesters demanded the king restore democracy in the Himalayan kingdom.

Police detained more than 1,500 people for defying a ban on public rallies that the government imposed Thursday in hopes of preventing protests against the king, who dismissed an elected government two years ago and replaced it with one loyal to the monarchy. About 1,000 protesters were arrested Friday.

Thousands have participated in recent rallies across the country to demand polls and the restoration of Parliament. Some of the protests have turned violent.

The demonstrations are being organized by the country’s five largest political parties, including the Nepali Congress and the United Marxist Leninist Communist Party of Nepal.

The protesters are demanding that King Gyanendra restore the elected government.