[JURIST] Police in Nepal [JURIST news archive] fired on a crowd of pro-democracy protestors [JURIST news archive] Tuesday, injuring at least 12, observers said. Reports said that protestors in Kathmandu marched from an area not covered by a curfew [JURIST report] toward a line of police, who then fired on the demonstrators. It was unclear whether police were using live ammunition or rubber bullets. Protestors have held marches [JURIST report] for the past six days, opposing the rule of King Gyanendra [official website] and often clashing with security forces.

The Nepalese government has come under fire from both the UN and rights groups for its handling of the protests. A representative from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [official website] condemned police violence [news release; eKantipur.com report] and urged the government to temper its crack down on protestors. Amnesty International [advocacy website] said the government was only making the situation worse [news release; eKantipur.com report] with its harsh tactics. AP has more.