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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Bicycle |
| 2004-08-16 |
| A man on a bicycle threw at least four bombs into the compound of a luxury hotel in Nepal's capital Monday but the blasts caused no casualties, authorities said. The attack in Kathmandu came on the eve of a deadline by Maoist rebels to shut down 10 firms, including the popular Soaltee Crowne Plaza hotel, accusing them of unfair labor practices in the Himalayan state. "The explosions took place within a gap of a few minutes," an Interior Ministry official told Reuters. "The bombs fell near the empty tennis court at the back of the hotel. So no one was injured." There were no claims of responsibility for the blasts but the official blamed Nepal's Maoist insurgents who have been fighting since 1996 to replace the constitutional monarchy with communist rule. The Maoist revolt has killed more than 10,000 people in the desperately poor country, wedged between China and India. It has scared away investors and tourists and threatened the stability of multiparty democracy set up in 1990. Monday's attack was the first targeting a luxury hotel in the Nepali capital, popular with tourists for its Hindu temples and casinos. Police and soldiers sealed the area around the hotel after the blasts around 7:15 p.m. (9:30 a.m. EDT) and guests were allowed inside only after being thoroughly frisked, witnesses said. The 283-room hotel is particularly popular with Indian tourists but it was estimated to be only half occupied because it is the off-season. A trade union linked to the rebels last week asked 10 companies across the country to shut down indefinitely starting Tuesday, saying that they exploited their workers. The Soaltee management had refused to bow to the threats. Hotel officials were not immediately available for comment after the blasts. The rebels have also threatened to blockade Kathmandu and prevent food and other supplies reaching the hill-ringed capital from Aug. 18 unless the government gives in to a series of demands. Couldn't have someone chased this cyclist down on foot? Whudda low budget operation. |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #2 Bicyclists. Why do they hate us? |
| Posted by: Scott R 2004-08-16 4:47:57 PM |
| #1 "The bombs fell near the empty tennis court at the back of the hotel. So no one was injured." Sorry, was this in Athens? |
| Posted by: Raj 2004-08-16 4:40:53 PM |