Students protested in Kathmandu yesterday against King Gyanendra's planned participation in the South Asian regional summit in Dhaka this weekend, witnesses said.

Dozens of students shouted slogans and carried banners denouncing Nepal's king, who sacked the government and seized power in the Himlayan kingdom in February, declaring the step necessary to put down a Maoist rebellion.

Political leaders sidelined by the power grab have challenged Gyanendra's right to represent Nepal at the November 12-13 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit.