KATHMANDU: A general strike called by opposition political parties to oppose government plans for elections in November shut down Nepal's capital on Thursday, closing schools and markets.

Vehicles stayed off the streets and shops were shut down in Katmandu because of the one-day strike.

An alliance of 33 opposition parties is demanding that Constituent Assembly elections set for November 19 be canceled and polls instead be conducted by a new government that has representation from all the political parties.

An interim government led by the supreme court chief justice was appointed earlier this year to carry out the elections.