The leader of Nepal's Maoists yesterday called a nationwide general strike, stepping up pressure on the government to quit as tens of thousands of his supporters demonstrated in Kathmandu.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced an "indefinite" strike from today to try to oust the government of the impoverished Himalayan nation, which is still recovering from a civil war.

"We're compelled to call for an indefinite strike from tomorrow because of the government's lack of concern about taking the peace and constitution-making processes forward," he said as demonstrators cheered and whistled in approval.

Security was on high alert amid fears the latest turmoil would imperil the peacemaking process in Nepal, which is sandwiched between Asian giants India and China.

Government ministers say "street protests can't change the course of politics but history has proved otherwise," said Dahal, who also goes by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda, meaning the 'fierce one'.

Police reported the demonstration was peaceful but added they believed the crowd totalled around 150,000 demonstrators - much lower than Maoist estimates of 600,000.

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