Demonstrators shut down Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, Wednesday during a general strike to protest the alleged Maoist killing of a local businessman.
Police clashed with anti-Maoist protesters in several parts of the capital, as demonstrators set up road blocks to enforce the day-long strike.
The relatives of slain businessman Ram Hari Shrestha organized the strike after accusing the Maoists of abducting and killing Shrestha late last month. They say the former rebels falsely accused Shrestha of stealing a large sum of money and a handgun from the party.
Maoist leader Prachanda has said the murder was an isolated incident carried out by "selfish elements" within the party. Party leaders say they will bring Shrestha's killers to justice.
The Maoists won the most seats in last month's elections for a special assembly to draft a new constitution.
The former rebels agreed to a peace deal with Nepal's government in 2006, after a decade-long civil war that claimed at least 13,000 lives.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
