Nepalese Communists call nationwide strike

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Nepal's Communist party called a crippling nationwide strike Sunday to protest police action against squatters on government land, officials said.

The action by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal closed schools, offices and businesses, and brought public transport to a halt, the Hindustan Times reported.

Protesters attacked shopkeepers and motorists in Kathmandu, damaged vehicles and destroyed property, the newspaper said.

The strike was called after four squatters and a police officer were killed Friday in skirmishes between police and more than 20,000 landless people occupied forest lands in a district of western Nepal bordering India, officials said.

Nepalese Home Minister Bhim Rawal said squatters had been warned to leave and police had only fired in self-defense when attacked.

"If the government continues to use excessive force against the landless, we will come up with appropriate answers," Netra Bikram Chand, general secretary of the Maoist political party said.