King Gyanendra of Nepal deployed lethal force against his people on Thursday as he cracked down on a pro-democracy movement that is gaining support from a spreading cross-section of Nepali society.

Government forces with shoot-to-kill orders shot three demonstrators, taking to 13 the number of deaths since the start of a general strike on April 6. More than 100 were injured, human rights groups said, and protests are likely to resume on Friday.