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Alcohol ban for Nepal elections Alcohol ban for Nepal elections
(about 1 hour later)
The sale and production of alcohol will be banned in Nepal in the run-up to elections for an assembly that will re-write the country's constitution.The sale and production of alcohol will be banned in Nepal in the run-up to elections for an assembly that will re-write the country's constitution.
The week-long ban, beginning Monday, is aimed at preventing political violence, a government spokesman said.The week-long ban, beginning Monday, is aimed at preventing political violence, a government spokesman said.
The election is a major part of Nepal's peace process which started when Maoist rebels gave up their armed revolt.The election is a major part of Nepal's peace process which started when Maoist rebels gave up their armed revolt.
Nepal has declared a five-day national holiday ahead of the 10 April election, the first in Nepal since 1999. Nepal has declared a five-day national holiday ahead of the 10 April polls, the first in Nepal since 1999.
Last month the United Nations expressed concern at an upsurge in violence ahead of the elections.Last month the United Nations expressed concern at an upsurge in violence ahead of the elections.
At least two people have been killed and many injured in election-related violence.At least two people have been killed and many injured in election-related violence.
The new assembly will rewrite the country's constitution and is expected to turn Nepal into a republic.The new assembly will rewrite the country's constitution and is expected to turn Nepal into a republic.
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that enforcing the ban will be difficult in some areas, including the mountains, where potent home brews made from millet, buckwheat or rice are popular.
In ethnic Tibetan communities of the remote north-west, election candidates have even been offering locally brewed spirits to voters to attract their support.
All public and private transport will be banned on polling day to try to thwart the movement of anyone trying to disrupt the voting.
And people will be forbidden to carry weapons, including the popular knives known as khukris, during the same period.
The election is an important part of the country's peace process, in which communist rebels gave up a decade-long armed revolt.The election is an important part of the country's peace process, in which communist rebels gave up a decade-long armed revolt.
The government and the rebels agreed in October to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy immediately after the election, ending the world's last Hindu monarchy.The government and the rebels agreed in October to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy immediately after the election, ending the world's last Hindu monarchy.