At least two persons were killed and 90 others injured in the unrest in south Nepal on Monday afternoon, local leading media group's website THT on-line reported.

In Saptari district, some 190 km south of Nepali capital Kathmandu, a local named Goltan Das was killed after police opened fire on protesters who tried to defy prohibitory orders which were issued by district administration on Monday morning.

Among the injured, four have been rushed to local hospital for treatment, according to the police.

In Inaruwa of Sunsari district, some 200 km south of Kathmandu, one policeman head constable Chaitu Chaudhari was killed and over 60 protesters were injured when police and protesters clashed on Monday.

Mainly affected by the indefinite general strike called on by United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), the south Nepal's Terai plains slipped into unrest since February 13. Accordingly, local government there issued curfew orders to control the situation.

UDMF, an alliance of three major agitating Madhes-based parties – Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF), Terai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Sadbhavana Party – has put forth a six-point demand that includes an autonomous Madhes state with a republican order and right to self-determination, the negotiation of which with the central government and ruling parties is still underway.

Madhesi people are the Nepalese mainly living in south Nepal's Terai plains, who are socio-culturally close to the bordering Indians.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2008)