Thousands of protesters defied a daytime curfew in the Nepali capital on Sunday, chanting slogans against the king on the 18th consecutive day of protests. At least three people were injured when police opened fire on one group of protesters in an eastern suburb of Kathmandu, witnesses said, although they were not sure if live rounds or rubber bullets were used. King Gyanendra's offer to hand over power to an alliance of seven political parties failed to quell the demonstrations against his rule, if anything emboldening the protesters still further. "Police and soldiers, you are our brothers — shoot Gyanendra," one group chanted at rows of padded and helmeted riot police wielding sticks and shields.