Nepal strike causes food, fuel shortages

KATHMANDU, Nepal, April 17 (UPI) -- On the 12th day of Nepal's anti-monarchy strike, food and fuel shortages are causing hoarding and panic buying.

The strike called by a seven-party opposition alliance to protest King Gyanendra's direct rule has closed shops, businesses, schools and colleges and halted transportation, the BBC reported Monday.

With trucks not delivering goods, prices have risen for staples like rice and vegetables.

Long lines have been reported at gasoline stations in the capital, Kathmandu. Across the country, Nepalese have been buying as much food as they can.

The government has offered security to transporters who are willing to defy the ban, hoping to avoid a nationwide crisis.

Monday, protesters were joined by the staff of Nepal's Supreme Court. In 1990, when the Supreme Court joined a protest against then-King Birendra, he was forced to give up power and restore democracy.