Soldier reportedly angered by argument kills 11 civilians and injures 19 in Nepal

Hundreds of people took to the streets and burned tyres in noisy protests yesterday after a Nepali soldier killed 11 people and wounded 19 after an argument, the army and witnesses said.

The army said the soldier, who began shooting after a row with villagers, also died in the incident which took place late on Wednesday near the tourist resort of Nagarkot. Some news reports said he killed himself.”The army has taken the incident very seriously and an investigation has been ordered” and the families of the dead would be compensated, the army said in a statement.At least 2000 people, including relatives and friends of the victims, burned tyres and protested against the killings in Bhaktapur, the nearest town.”You can’t just kill people,” they shouted outside a hospital where the bodies of the victims were taken for post mortem examinations.Dozens of riot police stood guard as relatives waited to receive the bodies.Witnesses said the villagers had gathered to mark the full moon on Wednesday at the temple on a hilly terrace.”Bloodstains littered the entire temple,” journalist Deepak Rijal told Reuters after visiting the site.”Human rights groups say the poorly trained Nepali army regularly commits human rights abuses in its battle to quell a Maoist rebellion.-Nampa-ReutersSome news reports said he killed himself.”The army has taken the incident very seriously and an investigation has been ordered” and the families of the dead would be compensated, the army said in a statement.At least 2000 people, including relatives and friends of the victims, burned tyres and protested against the killings in Bhaktapur, the nearest town.”You can’t just kill people,” they shouted outside a hospital where the bodies of the victims were taken for post mortem examinations.Dozens of riot police stood guard as relatives waited to receive the bodies.Witnesses said the villagers had gathered to mark the full moon on Wednesday at the temple on a hilly terrace.”Bloodstains littered the entire temple,” journalist Deepak Rijal told Reuters after visiting the site.”Human rights groups say the poorly trained Nepali army regularly commits human rights abuses in its battle to quell a Maoist rebellion.-Nampa-Reuters