Fresh protests in Nepal capital over fuel price hike

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Fresh protests over a recent hike in fuel prices forced thousands of students home and vehicles off the streets in the Nepali capital on Thursday, police said.

Three small communist parties have called for a transport strike in the Kathmandu valley to protest against a recent hike of about 25 percent in diesel and petrol prices.

Nepal imports about 800,000 tonnes of fuel from India to which it owes millions of dollars.

Authorities say the price hike was required to fund imports as the global oil prices continues to rise.

Ordinary Nepalis are fed-up with frequent strikes.

"This is getting too much and I think protests and strikes must end now and ordinary people must not be troubled every time," said Ram Krishna Pathak, a government employee.

Transport across Nepal was shut down for two days this week and protesters have stoned and destroyed dozens of vehicles since last week.