The Nepali Ministry of Defence has stated that the maintaining of curfew is to ensure peace and order in the capital of Nepal, state-run Radio reported Monday.

The radio quoted a press release by the ministry as requesting people to cooperate with the security force personnel mobilized on duty by remaining within the jurisdiction of the Act.

The press release stated that the Local Administration issued curfew orders only in extreme and compelling situations, the curfew will be removed once the situation returns to normalcy.

"It is known to all that the security force is mobilized all the time to maintain peace and order during the curfew enforced by the Local Administration under the Local Administration Act 2028," the ministry stated.

The ministry also denied the charge on using vigilantes in the current movement.

A meeting of the Nepali Seven Party Alliance's (SPA) task force held Sunday decided to bring more than 2 million people along the 27-km long Ring Road in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

The Nepali King Gyanendra, who took full powers in February 2005, announced last Friday that he will give up political power to the people and asked the SPA to name a new prime minister.

The general strike called by the SPA has hit the normal life of people hard across Nepal.

A total halt in business and trade activities along with the disruption of transportation services since April 6 has made life difficult.

No vehicles plied on the roads and bazaar remained closed Sunday, the 19th consecutive day of the general strike.

The government continued daytime curfew in the Kathmandu Valley on Monday beginning 11:00 AM local time (05:15 GMT) to 6:00 PM local time (12:15 GMT) to maintain law and order.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2006)