Retired Nepali civil servant Dhruba Shrestha has lived through decades of turmoil, from civil war to political upheaval, but the 76-year-old says nothing compared to the violence that engulfed the Himalayan nation this week.

"I've seen violence since my student days, but never such a riot," Shrestha told AFP Friday, as the army briefly lifted a curfew in Kathmandu.

Nepal was plunged into chaos after police fired on young anti-corruption protesters, triggering nationwide unrest on Tuesday.

Demonstrators torched parliament, government and presidential offices, and a newly-opened Hilton Hotel, before soldiers retook control of the streets the following day.

"Anyone would be afraid in such a situation," Shrestha said. "No one could have imagined this."

The capital's streets were eerily qu

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