Normal life has been affected in Kathmandu on Thursday due to the 18-hour long day-time curfew imposed by the government to thwart the major showdown of the seven political parties.

Issuing separate notices, local administrations of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktpur clamped down an 18-hour long curfew from 2.00 a.m. Thursday morning to 8.00 p.m in the evening.

Security forces could shoot violators or police could arrest them and jail them up to one month,” the notices said.

The streets of Kathmandu valley remained deserted due to the curfew. Only a few security forces vehicle could be seen plying the streets.

Unlike previous curfews, the government did not issue curfew passes to necessary services.

The distribution of newspaper was also affected as the government did not issue curfew passes to media houses.

Some journalists of media houses were compelled to stay in the office for the transmission of news.

The daylong curfew has adversely affected the National Vitamin A capsule and deworming tablets distribution campaign.

The programme that started on Wednesday and was scheduled to continue on Thursday as well.

Earlier, issuing a press statement, the agitating political parties said the parties would cooperate with local health volunteers in administering Vitamin A capsules and de-worming medicines to children as this is a humanitarian issue despite the general strike called by them.

However, leaders of political parties have said that they will defy the curfew order and take to the streets demanding complete democracy.

CPN-UML leader Subash Nemwang said that all people will come to the street protesting the unconstitutional order of the unconstitutional government defying the curfew order to make the ongoing movement a success.

The government imposed day-time curfew during a planned major showdown of the seven political parties on January 20 and during the general strike and major showdown of the political parties from April 8 to 11. nepalnews.com pb Apr 20 06