Nepal's capital crippled by fuel shortages

NEPAL: Nepal's capital was crippled by fuel shortages Sunday as a general strike called by ethnic minorities demanding more rights prevented new fuel shipments from reaching the city.

Katmandu's buses, vans and trucks remained parked on the side of the road because drivers were unable to buy fuel. Long lines with hundreds of vehicles formed at service stations as people looked for any remaining stock.

The state-owned Nepal Oil Corp. has been unable to transport fuel to Katmandu since last week because of a general strike called by ethnic rights groups in southern Nepal.

"We have almost run out of fuel in our storage tanks in Katmandu, and we have not been able to get new stock," Digambar Jha, the NOC chief, told The Associated Press.

Katmandu, Sunday, AP