Nepalese go to polls amid sporadic violence


KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- Voters went to the polls Thursday in historic elections in Nepal that were marred by sporadic reports of violence.

Authorities suspended voting at 12 polling stations after clashes between supporters of various political parties, police said. A ballot box was burned at one station, police said, and a polling officer was beaten at another.

At least 20 people had been killed in pre-election violence, including eight this week. Two candidates were among those killed.

Voters in Nepal are electing an assembly that will decide whether the country continues its 240 years as a monarchy or becomes a republic, as most expect. The 601-member constituent assembly will prepare a new constitution.

The elections come two years after a peace accord ended 10 years of fighting between the government and Maoists insurgents. The country's monarch, King Gyanendra, gave up most powers in April 2006 after an uprising against his direct rule.

Clashes Thursday prompted authorities to close 12 of roughly 8,000 polling stations, police said.

In one incident, a ballot box was burned after Maoists declined to let voters cast ballots if they supported other political parties, police said. In another, Maoists beat up a poll worker, police said. Watch Nepali citizens head to the polls »

In this week's violence, a communist candidate was shot and killed Tuesday. That same day, police shot and killed six members of a Maoist party; the circumstances were unclear, but government officials said police fired after a disturbance.

On Wednesday, officers fired into a crowd of demonstrators, killing one.