Fueled by Anger Over Corruption, Nepal Protesters Topple Prime Minister

Nepal became the third country in South Asia to topple its leader in recent years after violent protests over corruption and a social-media ban forced its prime minister to resign.

Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli’s press representative, Prakash Silwal, confirmed his resignation, which came Tuesday as demonstrators in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu defied curfews to attack the homes and properties of political leaders they held responsible for the deaths of at least 19 protesters in clashes with security forces a day earlier.

“Our first demand is that this government should immediately resign because they have lost all moral ground after having killed so many of our brothers and sisters yesterday,” said Sudan Gurung, a protest leader, in a video message on social media earlier Tuesday.