Nepalese president denies resignation as violent protests escalate; former first lady killed and official residence set on fire.
The unrest is the worst in decades in the impoverished Himalayan country.
247 - The newspaper India Today reported on Tuesday (9) that the President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel, resigned amid a wave of instability in the country. However, the cabinet denied the reports that he had resigned.
According to the publication, protesters in Nepal released a letter stating that the country is under their leadership and calling for the formation of a "civilian government led by a universally acceptable person," as well as the holding of elections.
According to the Khabarhub portal, protesters set fire to Paudel's official residence on Tuesday. The publication reports that the protesters entered through the main gate and then set the building ablaze. Protesters also stormed the parliament building, the Himalayan Times reported.
The unrest is the worst in decades in the impoverished Himalayan country, which lies between India and China and has faced political instability and economic uncertainty since protests led to the abolition of its monarchy in 2008, according to Reuters.
According to Sputnik, the acts were triggered by the banning of several major social media networks.
Meanwhile, at least 1.500 prisoners escaped from Nakkhu prison in Lalitpur during the protests, according to the Khabarhub website.
Later that same day, a shooting occurred at the Nepalese police headquarters building, local media reported.
The wife of former Nepalese Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, who was injured after her home was set on fire during anti-government protests in the country, has died, the Khabarhub news portal reported on Tuesday.
Earlier, the news outlet had reported that Khanal's wife was in critical condition due to burns she suffered.
The number of injured in protests in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, has surpassed 500. As a result of clashes between demonstrators and security forces on Monday, 22 people died, according to the Himalayan Times. Three police officers were killed during the unrest in the capital.
Protesters attacked a prison in the city of Dhangadhi, from which hundreds of inmates managed to escape. (With information from Sputnik).