ISTANBUL 

The Nepalese Army has imposed "prohibitory orders" as an uneasy calm prevailed Wednesday, one day after widespread protests ousted the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, according to the army.

"The prohibitory orders will remain in force until 5:00pm today (1115GMT), after which a curfew will be imposed across the country from 6:00am on Thursday (0015 GMT, Wednesday)," said the army. "Further decisions will be taken depending on the evolving security situation."

Soldiers were deployed late Tuesday to maintain law and order, hours after Oli stepped down under pressure from protesters who set government buildings on fire, including the parliament, Oli's private residence and the president's office.

The Singha Durbar, home to key ministries, was also badly damaged. The Ministry of Health and Population, along with other government offices, including the Supreme Court, have been destroyed.

At least 25 protesters, mostly youth, were killed and 700 others have been injured since Monday when protests broke out following a ban on social media companies by the government because they did not comply with a law requiring the firms to register with the government, according to the Health Ministry.

Nepal's civil society organization, Freedom Forum, reported that the offices of Public Service Broadcast (Nepal Television and Radio Nepal), Kantipur Publications, Kantipur Television, Radio Kantipur and the Annapurna Post were set on fire while other media organizations were also vandalized.

Several journalists were also injured during the protests, according to Media Action Nepal.

The army has detained 27 people for allegedly committing looting, arson and vandalism by Wednesday and recovered 31 firearms from suspects, according to the Setopati digital magazine.

The army said 23 police personnel and three civilians were being treated at military hospitals.

Media reports said more than 13,500 inmates have broken out of prisons across the country during the unrest.

Soldiers were deployed to maintain law and order as protesters vandalized public properties and freed prisoners.

Army chief Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel urged people, in an address to the nation late Tuesday, to maintain calm and hold dialogue to solve the crisis in the Himalayan nation.


Jagdishor Panday, editor of Nepal Diplomat, told Anadolu that the army is making public announcements, urging people to maintain calm.

"The security forces are also asking people to return any looted material, including weapons, to the authorities," Panday told Anadolu on Wednesday.

While there is no leader of the protest movement, he said, however, that security forces are expected to hold a meeting with some of those leading demonstrations.

"There is demand for an interim government and people from across the Nepalese society are expected to attend these meetings," said Panday, suggesting Sigdel could host deliberations.

Separately, China expressed hope Wednesday that all parties in Nepal "can properly address domestic issues, and restore social order and national stability as soon as possible."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the two nations "are traditionally friendly neighbors."​​​​​​​