[JURIST] Nepalese security forces fired rubber bullets and live rounds on tens of thousands of pro-democracy protestors [JURIST news archive] in Kathmandu Saturday, injuring many demonstrators as they marched toward the palace of King Gyanendra [official profile; BBC profile] just one day after his pledge [JURIST report; proclamation text and recorded video] to restore democracy to the country was rejected as inadequate [JURIST report] by the seven-party political alliance that has been spearheading demonstrations against direct royal rule for over two weeks. Security forces also fired tear gas and used batons. A Nepalese Red Cross spokesman said 243 people were hurt and 39 had to be hospitalized. AP has more. eKantipur.com has local coverage.

UN human rights experts condemned [JURIST report] the Nepalese government's repeated uses of force against protestors in a statement [text] issued Thursday.