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| KATMANDU Thousands of demonstrators vandalised a mosque and clashed with police in the capital yesterday to protest the killing of 12 Nepalese hostages by Iraqi militants. Hours after the rioting broke out, the government imposed a curfew in Katmandu. A government notice warned that curfew violators would be shot on sight. "We want revenge," protesters shouted as they stormed the Jame mosque the only Muslim house of worship in the capital. They broke windows and set fire to carpets, furniture and parts of the building. No one was inside at the time. Police fired tear gas in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the mob. In other parts of Katmandu, protesters blamed the government for not doing enough to secure the release of the 12 Nepalese contract workers . "Other countries have sent their ministers and negotiators to get their citizens released. All our government did was issue a couple of statements," said Rajesh Pradhan, a protester. Nepal, which has no troops in Iraq, has long banned its citizens from working there because of security concerns. But 17000 Nepalese are believed to have slipped into Iraq, many working as security guards . Nepal's ambassador to Qatar, Shyamananda Suman, said his government tried to make contact with the militants holding the 12 Nepalese. "There were no demands from the kidnappers to negotiate, and then all of a sudden we hear that they killed them," Suman said. Sapa-AFP
| Thursday 02 September 2004
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