More than 3,000 schools and colleges around the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, have been forced to close because of an indefinite strike called by pro-Maoist students.

The Revolutionary All Nepal National Independent Students' Union (Annisu) is demanding radical changes in Nepal's education system. About 500,000 students are affected.

Schools and school buses have been bombed during previous strikes, and the education authorities say it is safer to close the schools.

Maoist rebels have been fighting to overthrow the Nepalese monarchy since 1996.

List of demands

Last week the students' union rejected a package of education reforms announced by the government.

The students want free schooling up to the age of 16 and a ban on Maoists being called terrorists in schools.

They have also called for an end to what they describe as the commercialisation of education.

Annisu chairman Devendra Parajuli said that his union was ready for talks but he insisted that the government should withdraw the terrorist label on his organisation.

Bomb blasts

The education and sports minister, Devi Prasad Ojha, has not ruled out talks but says the students must renounce violence.

He referred to a series of bomb blasts carried out by Maoist students in schools, colleges and the government education offices, ahead of the strike.

If their demands are not met, the students threaten to call on schools throughout Nepal to close down.

The six-year Maoist insurgency in Nepal has cost more than 7,000 lives.