KATHMANDU: Tens of thousands of people took part in the rally and mass meeting organised by a major opposition, CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninist) party, in the capital, Kathmandu, on Friday.

Supporters and activists of UML converged into a mass meeting at New Baneswore chowk this afternoon carrying red hammer and sickle flags and chanting anti-king and pro-democracy slogans. As the local administration has declared inner parts of the city, including Open Air Theater, as the ‘prohibited zone,’ the participants in the rally sat on the road in front of Birendra International Convention Centre for over three hours to listen to their leaders.

The organizers said over 75,000 (not verified independently) people turned up in today’s rally and mass meeting.

Addressing the function, UML general secretary, Madhav Kumar Nepal said Friday’s mass meeting was only a rehearsal and that the ‘tsunami’ of the people’s movement was in the making. He said the movement itself would decide the fate of the monarchy.

The UML leader admitted for the first time that he had met Maoist leader, Prachanda. He did not provide details. He said the seven party alliance was committed to hold dialogue not only in India, but also in the US or Europe, if the need be, to restore peace in the country.

UML general secretary Nepal welcomed the extension of the ceasefire by the CPN (Maoist) for one more month. He also urged the Maoists to understand people’s sensitivities and return to a peaceful mass movement.

Another UML leader, KP Sharma Oli, urged the king to learn from the history of monarchies around the world. He said monarchs who failed to honour people’s voice had been punished by the history.

UML leaders JN Khanal and Surendra Pandey also addressed the meeting. The UML leaders alleged that the security personnel had barred dozens of public vehicles – that were carrying hundreds of UML workers– from entering the Kathmandu in Dhading and Kavre.

Representatives from European countries, Bangladesh, India and The Phillipines also addressed the meeting and expressed their solidarity towards the people’s movement in Nepal for the restoration of peace and democracy.

Meanwhile, minor scuffle was reported between police and CPN-UML cadres after the mass meeting as the protestors pelted stones at the security convoy on the way to the airport to welcome Their Majesties the King and Queen.

Police batton charged to disperse the crowd. At least two activists have been reported injured in the incident.