King Gyanendra of Nepal today freed the country’s two top political prisoners, his first conciliatory move in two weeks of forcefully suppressed protests against his rule.

But violence continued elsewhere in the Himalayan kingdom, as security forces opened fire on protesters in the western town of Chandragadi, killing at least two people and wounding dozens, witnesses and political party activists said.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, and Ram Chandra Poudel, senior leader of the Nepali Congress, were driven to a courthouse in Katmandu and released this morning after signing some papers. They had been held in prison for three months.

The two opposition leaders were arrested in January, just before the opposition was due to hold a mass rally in Katmandu, the capital, to protest at the way the King dismissed the Government and seized power last year.

"We will launch the protest in an effective way until full sovereignty is returned to the people," Madhav Kumar Nepal told reporters after his release.

The releases were timed to take place a few hours before opposition leaders were due to meet a special envoy from India to discuss the deepening crisis that is convulsing Nepal.

Karan Singh, the son of the last king of Jammu-Kashmir, arrived in Nepal today and will meet Madhar Kumar Nepal tonight, his party confirmed.

"I bring good wishes for people of Nepal and bring prayer and hope that Nepal will get out of difficult situation and return to peace," Karan Singh said. "I am always optimistic." He is due to hold talks with King Gyanendra tomorrow.

King Gyanendra seized direct power last year, arguing it was necessary to restore political order and crush a vicious Maoist insurgency in the countryside that has left nearly 13,000 people dead.

But the insurgency has not been crushed, and unrest has grown as increasing numbers of Nepal’s 27 million people showed their frustration with the rebellion and the faltering economy.

Nepal’s opposition political parties called the general strike on April 6 in an attempt to oust the King, triggering the worst unrest since the royal coup. The Government has responded harshly. Police have beaten, tear gassed and arrested thousands of protesters.

This morning at least two protesters were shot dead in the town of Chandragadi in the south-east of the country, when officers opened fire on a crowd of several thousands who had been throwing rocks at them. Dozens more were wounded. The casualties brought the death toll to eight, in two weeks of mounting protests and a general strike.

Times Recommends

• Mandela’s tribe threatens President Zuma
• The French empire strikes back
• Wife of cheating governor exacts a political revenge