Hundreds of journalists in Nepal have demonstrated in the capital, Kathmandu, to protest a new law that calls for longer prison terms and bigger fines for journalists convicted of defamation. The protest was led by a group called the Federation of Nepalese Journalists. Members are demanding that the new laws be lifted. Criticism of the royal government and independent reporting on the country's communist insurgency have already been banned. Those measures have been in effect since King Gyanendra seized absolute power in February. The new media law, which went into effect earlier this month, also bans private radio stations from broadcasting news.