Nepal polls: Maoists threaten to take action

Communist rebels threatened on Saturday to take "severe action" against candidates in upcoming municipal elections called by the country's royalist government.

Prabha Kiran, the rebel commander in Kathmandu, also ordered people not to participate in any tasks related to the polls.

He said anyone who has already registered as a candidate should withdraw by Wednesday.

"Those who defy orders should be prepared for severe action," he said in a statement.

The rebels and the country's seven largest political parties oppose the government's plans for local elections on February 8, arguing they will legitimise King Gyanendra's seizure of direct control over the central government a year ago.