All the manpower companies halted their office work Friday, observing the September 1 as a black day, as the riots that followed after 12 innocent Nepalis were brutally killed in Iraq vandalized mosques, media houses and manpower agencies on the day two years ago.

The riots in Kathmandu valley and some major cities had claimed two lives and destroyed property worth billions.

Muslim militants-army of Ansar al-Sunnah-had killed 12 Nepali hostages on charge of helping the Americans in Iraq on 31 August 2004.

The foreign employment entrepreneurs organized a protest rally in the capital and also submitted a memorandum at the Department of Labor and Transport Management demanding compensation as committed by the government.

The government had set up a judicial commission to probe into the September 1 incidents and had said it would provide agencies compensation after assessing damages.

Property worth over Rs 1 billion rupees was destroyed during violent protests over the killing of the Nepalis.

Offices of 279 manpower agencies in the capital, Kantipur television, Channel Nepal Television, Spacetime publications, Qatar Airways, Air Sahara, Pakistan International Airlines, Himalayan Snacks and Noodles, HP Gas, International Motorcycle Spare Parts, Manitara Shopping Center, Zenith Travel and Tours, SSI Communications, World Distribution (P) Ltd, Nepal Soft Solution, APTEC and two mosques in Kathmandu, among others were ransacked.