In Nepal, nationwide anti-government demonstrations calling on King Gyanendra to step down have entered their fourth day. In the capital city of Katmandu police today fired tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators. One student leader was reportedly seriously injured after police hit him in the head with a baton. Up to 500 anti-monarch activists were temporarily detained in recent days including key leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal as well as the country’s former foreign and finance ministers. After ending a four-month ceasefire the Maoist rebels have stepped up its attacks on government installations. In one recent ambush Maoists killed at least 12 Nepalese police officers. The Maoists and other anti-monarch groups have called for the King to call off the upcoming Feb. 8 municipal elections because they fear the election legitimizes the King’s move last year to seize complete control of the country and to dissolve Nepal’s parliament. A nationwide strike has been called for Thursday.