UN chief calls for investigation in Nepal following deadly protests

ISTANBUL

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a thorough investigation and restraint Tuesday following deadly protests in Nepal that left 20 people dead and forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

"I'm closely following the situation in Nepal & I'm deeply saddened by the loss of life," Guterres wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.

"I urge a thorough investigation, restraint to avoid further escalation of violence & dialogue towards forging a constructive path forward," he said.

He called on the authorities to "comply with human rights law," underscoring that protests "must take place in a peaceful manner, respecting life & property."

The Nepalese army took control Tuesday night after two days of deadly protests.

President Ramchandra Paudel is preparing to start the process to form a new government after he accepted Oli’s resignation amid the deadly protests since Monday, which also left nearly 350 people injured.

Nepal has seen dramatic events since Monday after Oli banned social media, asking the multinational platforms to open offices in the landlocked Himalayan country.

The move triggered mass protests in the capital Kathmandu, with protesters storming public buildings and offices of political parties as well as entering the parliament building before setting it on fire.

The protesters also set fire to the residences of top leaders, including the President's Office, as violent protests continued despite the government's announcement to lift the social media ban.