Travellers told to avoid Nepal

Travellers are being advised against all but essential travel to Nepal following a rise in violent anti-government protests.

During the past few days demonstrations have taken place in Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokahara and Bardiya resulting in violent clashes between demonstrators and the police.

Three people have been killed and hundreds more have been injured in the clashes, and there have been hundreds of arrests.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reports that the Nepalese capital Kathmandu is subject a daytime curfew, which is being reviewed on a daily basis.

Kathmandu has been subject to a night time curfew between 2300 and 0300 for some time, and curfews have also been imposed in other cities and roads across Nepal.

"We advise against all but essential travel to Nepal during the current period of enhanced tensions as there is a risk of being caught up in violence on the streets," the FCO's advice reads.

"Those British nationals already in Nepal should decide whether their presence there is essential. We will keep this advice under close review."

It adds: "We advise those British nationals already in Nepal to respect the curfews and to stay indoors during curfew hours. They should only move around outside the curfew hours with care."

It is not the first time the FCO has advised travellers against travel to Nepal this year. It did so in the run up to the country's elections on February 8th, but downgraded it to "exercise extreme caution" towards the end of February.

The country, which numbers Mount Everest among its attractions, is popular with travellers seeking trekking holidays.