KATHMANDU (AFP) -- Police and soldiers were out in force on the streets of Kathmandu Friday after the government imposed a daytime curfew and rounded up political activists in a bid to foil planned anti-king protests.

Residents rushed to work before the 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. curfew was due to come into effect but most businesses kept their shutters down as truckloads of police rumbled through the city and soldiers took up positions at key points.

The last time a daytime curfew was imposed in the capital was when King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed full executive powers on February 1, 2005.

On Thursday, the security forces detained 107 activists and political leaders and cut mobile telephone services in a crackdown condemned by the United States, India, the European Union and Japan.

Further detentions were reported early Friday.

"I was placed under house arrest this morning," Bharat Mohan Adhikari a leader from the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) told AFP by telephone.

"Eleven armed police are stationed in my residence, and I understand that other leaders have also been placed under house arrest," Adhikari said.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (United Marxist Leninist), said he too, was under house arrest. "Armed police surrounded my house at 4 A.M. They came inside at 6 A.M. and at 7.30 a police superintendent came and handed over a warrant."

Nepal's seven main political parties had called Friday's protest to demand restoration of democracy and to call for a boycott of municipal polls announced for February 8.

Earlier in the week the government slapped a ban on all public gatherings and rallies.

With the curfew in place and their leaders in detention, political parties were Friday planning their next moves. "We think we are going to break the curfew this afternoon but we are not sure," said Nepali Congress secretary Shovakar Parajuli. "Discussions within the party are going on."

Khiman Singh Rayamajhi, communications officer for the Nepal Tarun Dal, the student wing of the Nepali Congress, was defiant.

"We are ready to break the curfew, but we are waiting for the decision of the party leaders. We have not received any information yet about whether the protest will go ahead," said Rayamajhi.

For people on the streets, the curfew was an irritant.

"In the name of giving security, the government is creating a difficult time for the general public. I hope this won't last long," said Sadhana Khadgi, a roadside vegetable seller who was busy trying get rid of her stock before the curfew took effect.

Rights groups feared further human rights abuses in the kingdom, where both the military and the Maoist rebels they are fighting are frequently accused of torture and extra-judicial killings.

"The government of Nepal should be aware the international community is gravely concerned with developments this week and should take immediate steps to remedy the serious human rights violations that have taken place," said Purna Sen from rights group Amnesty International.

Authorities said that they had received information that rebel Maoists would infiltrate the meetings and cause violence.

The Maoists said in a statement Monday that they would steer clear of the protest.

At least 12,000 people have died in the last decade in the Maoist "people's war", and 45 have been killed since the rebels ended a four month unilateral ceasefire in early January.

Facing international calls to restore democracy, Gyanendra has outlined a road map to peace, under which local elections in 58 municipalities will be held on February 8, and national elections held sometime before April 2007.

Opposition parties plan to boycott the polls and Maoists have threatened to disrupt them.