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At least 17 protesters were killed Monday when Nepal police dispersed young demonstrators in Kathmandu demanding the government lift its social media ban and tackle corruption.Several social media sites -- including Facebook, YouTube and X -- have been inaccessible in Nepal since Friday after the government blocked 26 unregistered platforms, leaving users angry and confused.Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and batons when the demonstrators pushed through barbed wire and tried to storm into a restricted area near parliament. "Seventeen people have died," Shekhar Khanal, spokesman for the Kathmandu valley police, told AFP.Khanal said about 400 people were injured, including over 100 police.Following the violence, home minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned at a cabinet meeting in the evening, local media reported."I had been there for a peaceful protest, but the government used force," said Iman Magar, 20, who was hit in his right arm."It was not a rubber bullet but a metallic one, and it took away a part of my hand. The doctor says I need to undergo an operation."Sirens wailed through the city as the injured were taken to hospitals."I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital," said Ranjana Nepal, information officer at the Civil Hospital, which received many of those wounded."Tear gas entered the hospital area as well, making it difficult for doctors to work," she told AFP.The United Nations demanded a swift and transparent probe of the violence."We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement."We have received several deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by security forces."Amnesty International also called for an investigation, and said live ammunition had been used against protesters.The district administration imposed a curfew in several key areas of the city, including the parliament, the president's residence and Singha Durbar, which houses the prime minister's office.Some of the demonstrators had climbed over the wall into the parliament premises and its gate was vandalised.Similar protests were organised in other districts across the country.Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business."We were triggered by the social media ban but that is not the only reason we are gathered here," said student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24."We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal."Another student, Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she was protesting the "authoritarian attitude" of the government."We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation," she told AFP.Demonstrators had started their protest in Kathmandu with the national anthem and waving the country's flag, before chanting against the social media stoppage and corruption.There have been several corruption cases reported in the last few years involving ministers, former ministers and high-profile officials.Since the ban, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations have gone viral on TikTok, which is still operating."There have been movements abroad against corruption, and they are afraid that might happen here as well," said protester Bhumika Bharati.The cabinet decided last month to give the affected social media firms seven days to register in Nepal, establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers.The decision came after a Supreme Court order in September last year.In a statement on Sunday, the government said it respected freedom of thought and expression and was committed to "creating an environment for their protection and unfettered use".Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past.The government blocked access to the Telegram messaging app in July, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering.It lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok in August last year after the platform agreed to comply with Nepali regulations.UN urges probe The United Nations demanded a swift and transparent investigation on Monday after a rights group accused police in Nepal of firing on people protesting against corruption, social media ban, killing at least 17. "We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

After weeks of violent protests, a leading rights activist and former chief justice have emerged as presidential contenders -- but can they succeed in the bare-knuckle world of Kenyan politics?President William Ruto has seen his popularity plummet since coming to power in 2022 over continued economic stagnation, corruption, police brutality and abductions targeting government critics.Ruto has stood firm against waves of violent protests seeking to force his resignation in mid-2024 and again in recent months, in which hundreds have died or disappeared.But many are now looking for new faces who can challenge him at the next election in 2027.Firebrand human rights activist Boniface Mwangi on Wednesday announced his bid for the top seat, vowing not to work with "anyone who is contaminated"."We cannot achieve change by working with people who have been part of the problem," Mwangi said as he announced his candidature.He pitched himself as the antithesis of the typical politician -- shunning bribes and the lavish cash hand-outs to voters that occur during Kenyan campaigns.But the 42-year-old faces an uphill struggle. His previous attempt to run a clean campaign -- running for a parliamentary seat in 2017 -- ended in failure.Another figure who has entered the fray is former chief justice David Maraga, who came out of retirement in June to announce his presidential bid.In an interview, he told AFP he had not previously considered a political career but was shocked into action by Ruto's violent crackdown on protesters."What I saw horrified me," he said. It is a "leadership that does not want to follow the law."Maraga, 74, made his name in 2017 when his bench of judges in the Supreme Court nullified the results of the presidential election over "irregularities and illegalities" -- an unprecedented ruling in Africa."Maraga could be our Muhammad Yunus," said Nelson Amenya, a columnist and whistleblower, on X, referring to the respected Bangladeshi civil society leader and statesman.Maraga rejects claims that he lacks the charisma and brawn for politics."I am prepared to go into the murky environment," he told AFP."What good is a good reputation for me if... I see my country going down and I see the youths being killed, being kidnapped?"'BUILT TO CORRUPT'Ruto remains defiant, saying only he has a plan for the country, based on mobilising international investment and reforming public services.The opposition's "only plan is that 'Ruto must go' -- how will that help Kenyans and the country?" he said in a speech during the protests in June.Ruto has also repeatedly proved his mastery of Kenyan politics -- how to exploit its deep-rooted tribal divisions and mobilise voters with financial promises.While the protests of 2024 and 2025 showed there was a new generation of educated young Kenyans keen to move beyond that type of politics, analysts say there is still a long way to go."Culture does not change overnight," political analyst Kaburu Kinoti told AFP. No candidate "can appeal to the mass political market without segmenting it into ethnic blocs."Patrick Gathara, a political cartoonist, said candidates like Mwangi and Maraga will struggle to stay clean."I have no faith that they are not going to be corrupted by the system, because our system is actually built to corrupt people," he said.Gathara said the key to Kenya's future cannot come from politicians but continued pressure by citizens."Change never comes from within," he said.