Nepal government condemns attacks

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An emergency meeting of government ministers in Nepal has condemned a series of blasts in Kathmandu on Sunday that killed two people in the capital.

The ministers said the bombs were an "inhumane act of terrorism".

Three little-known groups from the southern Terai region of Nepal have claimed responsibility for the blasts, which left more than 20 people injured.

The government says it is increasing security ahead of constituent assembly elections due in three months.

Government spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara said security was being tightened around Nepal to foil terrorist activities ahead of the elections, which are due on 22 November.

Questioning

Police say that improvised explosives were used in the blasts and that a number of suspects have been rounded up for questioning.

The BBC's Surendra Phuyal, in Kathmandu, reports that at least three rebel groups from the Terai region say they have carried out the attacks.

Sunday's blasts were all came within minutes of each other, one hitting a minibus in the city and another a university campus outside it, police said.

Kathmandu had not seen any bomb explosions since Maoist rebels signed a landmark peace deal with the government in November 2006 and ended their insurgency.

Under the deal, the Maoists and the army agreed to place their weapons under the supervision of the United Nations.

Earlier this year the Terai region was hit by widespread protests called by members of the Madheshi community in support of their demand for a federal system of government.

More than two dozen people died during the protests.