Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned amid Nepal's worst unrest in decades, as public anger mounts over the deaths of 19 anti-corruption protesters in clashes with police on Monday.
On Tuesday, crowds set fire to parliament in the capital Kathmandu, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Government buildings and homes of political leaders were also attacked across the nation.
Three more deaths were reported on Tuesday. Amid the chaos, jail officials said 900 inmates managed to escape from two prisons in Nepal's western districts.
The demonstrations were triggered by a ban on social media platforms. It was lifted on Monday but by then, protests had swelled into a mass movement.
Nepal's army chief issued a statement late on Tuesday accusing demonstrators of taking advantage of the crisis to damage, loot, and set fire to both public and private property. He warned that if unrest continued, all security institutions, including the Nepal Army, are prepared to intervene.
Although the prime minister has stepped down, it remains unclear who will take his place. Some leaders, including ministers, have reportedly sought refuge with security forces.
Protesters have not formally outlined their demands beyond the broader calls against corruption. The protests emerged organically without an organized leadership.
Inside parliament, there were jubilant scenes as hundreds of protesters celebrated around a fire at the entrance, many waving Nepal's flags. Some entered the building, smashing windows and spray painting anti-government graffiti.
A Kathmandu resident, Muna Shreshta, expressed her belief that a significant change was needed in leadership and that the protests represented a desire for positive transformation in the country.
Last week, the government ordered a block on 26 social media platforms for failing to register, a move that young people viewed as an attack on free speech.
Despite the lifting of the ban on Monday night after an emergency meeting, protests escalated as they targeted the political elite, leading to chaos in the country.
During the protests, the headquarters of the Nepali Congress Party, part of the governing coalition, and the homes of its leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and former Prime Minister KP Oli were torched.
Oli stated that he had resigned to facilitate a constitutional solution, having accepted that the crisis was beyond political repair. The resignation has left Nepal at a crossroads, with ongoing insecurity and substantial public outcry against corruption.
On Tuesday, crowds set fire to parliament in the capital Kathmandu, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Government buildings and homes of political leaders were also attacked across the nation.
Three more deaths were reported on Tuesday. Amid the chaos, jail officials said 900 inmates managed to escape from two prisons in Nepal's western districts.
The demonstrations were triggered by a ban on social media platforms. It was lifted on Monday but by then, protests had swelled into a mass movement.
Nepal's army chief issued a statement late on Tuesday accusing demonstrators of taking advantage of the crisis to damage, loot, and set fire to both public and private property. He warned that if unrest continued, all security institutions, including the Nepal Army, are prepared to intervene.
Although the prime minister has stepped down, it remains unclear who will take his place. Some leaders, including ministers, have reportedly sought refuge with security forces.
Protesters have not formally outlined their demands beyond the broader calls against corruption. The protests emerged organically without an organized leadership.
Inside parliament, there were jubilant scenes as hundreds of protesters celebrated around a fire at the entrance, many waving Nepal's flags. Some entered the building, smashing windows and spray painting anti-government graffiti.
A Kathmandu resident, Muna Shreshta, expressed her belief that a significant change was needed in leadership and that the protests represented a desire for positive transformation in the country.
Last week, the government ordered a block on 26 social media platforms for failing to register, a move that young people viewed as an attack on free speech.
Despite the lifting of the ban on Monday night after an emergency meeting, protests escalated as they targeted the political elite, leading to chaos in the country.
During the protests, the headquarters of the Nepali Congress Party, part of the governing coalition, and the homes of its leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and former Prime Minister KP Oli were torched.
Oli stated that he had resigned to facilitate a constitutional solution, having accepted that the crisis was beyond political repair. The resignation has left Nepal at a crossroads, with ongoing insecurity and substantial public outcry against corruption.
