Kathmandu, April 10: Even as the royalist government in Nepal continued its crackdown on pro-democracy protests, Maoist rebels upped the ante by declaring that they would join the general strike which has crippled the Himalayan kingdom for the last four days.

In a joint statement issued late last night, Maoist supremo Prachanda and his colleague Baburam Bhattarai said that they have directed their cadres to violate curfew and prevent vehicular traffic on all highways in Nepal.

“We will continue our support to the civil society and political parties seeking restoration of complete democracy,” they said, adding that their cadres would also tear down all royal statues in the country.

The Maoist statement came hours after home minister Kamal Thapa claimed that the rebels had infiltrated the pro-democracy movement. He also said security forces had arrested several Maoists from the political rallies.

The security forces continued to be very severe with anyone who violated curfew orders across the country.

More than 70 demonstrators were injured, 15 of them seriously, when security forces intervened in a protest rally in the border town of Dhangadhi, western Nepal today. In the western tourist town of Pokhara, school and university teachers defied curfew orders and were arrested this morning.

Demonstrations were held all over Kathmandu this morning. Several of these protests were broken up by security personnel who used rubber bullets on the demonstrators. One person was injured. Taking a defiant stand, the ;leaders of the seven-party alliance announced that they would take the agitation to a new level no matter what happens.

Addressing journalists at the Reporters Club here, Nepali Congress joint general secretary Dr Ram Saran Mahat said they would not give up unless the sovereign rights are restored to the people.