(Recasts with price roll back) KATHMANDU, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Nepal rolled back a steep rise in fuel prices on Wednesday after two days of anti-government protests disrupted life in much of the Himalayan nation ahead of national elections, a spokesman said. The state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), which has a monopoly over oil imports, had increased kerosene, cooking gas and diesel prices by up to 20 percent on Monday to cut its losses and attempt to minimise fuel shortages. It was the second price rise since October. But the move was greeted with nationwide protests from student activists which caused two days of disruption across the country. In Kathmandu, protesters had blocked many roads and blackened the sky by burning logs and tyres. "The government directed NOC to roll back the prices. So we have withdrawn the increase," said Echha Bikram Thapa, an NOC spokesman. "NOC will provide the oil products at the previous prices." Student activists in Kathmandu cheered when they heard the news and began to disperse, leaving behind smouldering tyres in the street. Nepal is set to elect a constituent assembly on April 10. The assembly is expected to prepare a new constitution, formally declare an end to 240 years of monarchy, and also make the country's laws. NOC had said it needed to raise the prices to help pay bills worth millions of dollars to India's state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the sole supplier of oil to Nepal. Nepal buys about 800,000 tonnes of oil annually, accounting for about 10 percent of its energy needs. But it has faced shortages in recent months because of lack of money to pay for imports. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Jonathan Allen)
Workers from Bulgaria's largest steelmaker Kremikovtzi blow whistles and shout slogans during a protest in front of the administrative offices of the steelmaker near Sofia, January 23, 2008. Hundreds of workers ...
