Kathmandu, April 16. (PTI): Former Nepalese Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba, was among 1,000 demonstrators detained by riot police when they defied a ban on protests in Kathmandu demanding an end to Royal rule in the Himalayan kingdom.

Deuba along with thousands of his supporters belonging to his Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-Democratic) party staged sit-ins at Bhotahity and Ratnapark here.

However, riot police rounded him up along with about 1,000 supporters for flouting a ban on demonstrations, police said.

Besides Deuba, prominent figures among those detained include NC {Democratic) leader Prakash Man Singh, and central members of the party Bimalendra Nidhi, Vijaya Gachhadar and Rajendra Kharel.

The demonstrators chanted slogans like -- "Withdraw the Royal Proclamation of October 2002" that resulted in the dismissal of the Deuba Government by King Gyanendra; "restore democratic rights of the people" and "return sovereignty to the people."

In May 2002, Deuba dissolved Parliament after he had differences with Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, over the issue of extending the state of emergency to launch fight against Maosits and formed a new party NC-Democratic under his leadership, splitting Nepali Congress.

After he recommended the King to postpone the general elections scheduled for November 2003 due to the security problem, he was sacked by the King who described him as "incompetent".