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 KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Rebel attacks, the army's shooting of protesters and low turnout tainted Nepal's first election in seven years Wednesday, dealing a blow to the absolute rule of a king who seized power a year ago to stamp out the insurgents and restore political order.
Six people were killed in election-day violence, including a protester shot by soldiers. Another three rebels were killed the day before the vote.
Voters trickled into schools, Buddhist shrines and Hindu temples throughout the day Wednesday to cast ballots in the municipal election. But many others said they were scared from voting by a Maoist threat to kill anyone who took part and a government warning it would shoot anyone caught disrupting the polls, as the opposition had pledged to do.
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