[JURIST] Nepalese riot police shot and killed a pro-democracy protester and arrested twenty-nine journalists and five human rights activists on Wednesday in the seventh straight day of pro-democracy demonstrations [JURIST news archive] aimed at ending the direct rule government of King Gyanendra [official website]. The shooting in Nawalparasi, a town 200 km west of Kathmandu, was only the fourth death during the protests, but nearly 1,500 people have been arrested [JURIST report] throughout the country.

The protests turned deadly Wednesday despite relaxed curfews [AFP report] in Kathmandu, a move the government had hoped would ease tensions. Gyanendra, who says his government takeover [JURIST report] was justified due to an impending Maoist revolt, was scheduled to meet with his ministers again Wednesday to discuss the crisis. All seven of Nepal's political parties and a wide cross-section of the nation's economic classes reportedly support the continued resistance to Gyanendra's 14 month-old government. AP has more. eKantipur.com has local coverage.