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200 arrested in Nepal protests
 Police arrest protesters in Kathmandu on Saturday. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSKATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- More than 200 activists and opposition party members were arrested across Nepal on Saturday as they organized pro-democracy rallies, the parties said. Three hundred other activists were arrested Friday, and another 100 on Thursday, according to opposition party members. There were some injuries, but it was not known how many were hurt. The rallies were in protest of King Gyanendra's taking absolute control of the country in February, suspending Parliament and sacking the government. The king cited a threat from the Maoist insurgency as justification for his actions. The king has promised to restore multi-party democracy and basic civil and human rights, but he is under international pressure to move quickly. Municipal elections are scheduled for next month, but less than 15 percent of Nepalese are eligible to vote. Protesters claim the upcoming election is a sham as the king will still hold absolute power. They want the election to be canceled and a constitutional assembly to take place. Protesters included artists and writers. A popular folk singer and a well-known student leader were among those arrested. A reporter from CNN-IBN, CNN's affiliate in India, who is in Nepal, said her tapes were confiscated by Nepalese security forces. When the tapes were returned, they had been erased. CNN Correspondent Ram Ramgopal and Journalist C.K. Lal contributed to this report. 
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