Kathmandu - Nepal's seven-month political crisis appeared set to intensify Monday after Maoists resumed their protests against the government. Tens of thousands of Maoist supporters blockaded local government agencies across the Himalayan nation during their second phase of protests.
In the capital Kathmandu, thousands of Maoist supporters protested outside the city government offices to enforce the shutdown and locked up ward offices across the city.
The offices are responsible for distribution of vital documents such as birth, marriage and death registrations.
Media reports said metropolitan and village development committee offices across the country had been shut down by the strike.
The former rebels have been protesting since the Maoist-led coalition government collapsed after a power struggle with the president in May.
That centred on the government's dismissal of the army chief, which President Ram Baran Yadav annulled hours later.
The latest round of protests includes a blockade of Kathmandu Valley as well as Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu.
On Sunday, Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal warned the government that a full-fledged revolt would erupt if the government tried to break the strike or interfere in the protests.
"No one has the courage or power to stop our agitation," Dahal told his supporters in Kathmandu. "The price of trying to stop our protests would be high."
The Maoists emerged as the largest party in the April 2008 elections but fell well short of a majority.
