An alliance of political parties in Nepal Saturday rejected an offer by King Gyanendra to form an interim government, and said the movement for full democracy will continue. Tens of thousands of protesters poured into the center of the capital, Kathmandu, trying to reach the heavily guarded royal palace. VOA's Patricia Nunan was there as security forces drove the crowd back with volleys of tear gas.
The police just made a charge up these narrow streets in central Kathmandu to push back protesters who have been trying to approach the palace. The protesters are extra-angry at the moment because two people have been injured - either being shot by a teargas canister or being hit by a stick. In this particular area, it doesn't look like the police have been firing live rounds.
These violent protests come a day after King Gyanendra tried to appease the parties by announcing the formation of an interim government, but they aren't buying it and neither are the protesters on the street.
As I look around, there are dozens of sandal left, and flip-flops, where the protesters literally ran out of their shoes as they were trying to get away from the police.
This could carry on for a few more hours yet, if the protesters continue to try to surround the royal palace.