Supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) have been holding anti-government protests for several months that were put on hold for the festival season that started in September. The movement is the result of a political dispute that led the Maoist leader to resign as prime minister of the Himalayan nation and pull out of the ruling coalition.

In the capital, Katmandu, about 1,000 Maoist supporters waving their red party flags blocked the city's main municipal office chanting, "Restore people's rule, disband the puppet government!"

Pawan Man Shrestha, a Maoist leader based in Katmandu, said protests were organized at district administration office across the country that are responsible for cleaning the streets, issuing permits for businesses and construction.

Home Ministry spokesman Jayamukunda Khanal said the government had mobilized security nationwide for the protests, adding there were no reports of violence.

Protest organizers say the largest demonstration will come on Nov. 10, when they plan a blockade of Katmandu, shutting the country's only international airport and blocking all highways to the capital.

The resumption of protests threaten to deepen the political crisis in Nepal, which many hoped would ease when the rebels gave up their armed revolt in 2006, joined a peace process and eventually entered politics.

The Maoists emerged from elections last year as the country's largest political party and were able to form a coalition government with former guerrilla leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal as prime minister. But things turned sour when Dahal's attempt to fire the army chief was overruled by President Ram Baran Yadav _ a member of the rival Nepali Congress party.

The Maoists accused the army chief of opposing the integration of thousands of former rebel fighters into the national army _ a key component of the peace deal under which the Maoists laid down their arms three years ago. The fighters are still in U.N.-monitored camps.

Maoist leader Dahal resigned to protest the president's decision and the Maoists withdrew from the government. A new coalition government took over in May, and the Maoists began their protests.