Updated

An official says police in Nepal have fired at demonstrators protesting a proposed constitution, killing at least two and wounding 12 others.

Police official Rajesh Lal Karna said officers were forced to open fire Monday because hundreds of protesters had defied a curfew order and were attacking government buildings and private homes in the town of Surkhet in western Nepal.

The demonstrators were protesting a government-proposed clause in the draft constitution that would split the Midwest region to create new states.

The constitution, which is in the process of being finalized in the Constituent Assembly, would create six federal states.

There have been a number of protests across the country this week against the proposal.