Thousands of Nepalese protested in a southern business town on Wednesday against a plan to turn Nepal into a secular state. More than 5,000 people burned tyres and logs, and blocked roads in Birgunj, about 150 km (90 miles) south of Kathmandu, resident Shiva Patel said. They were protesting over a plan approved by parliament last week to turn Nepal, the world's only Hindu kingdom, into a secular state. Shouting "Jay Shree Ram!" (Lord Ram is great!), demonstrators obliged shops to pull down shutters and forced vehicles off the streets, local journalist Govind Devkota said from the town on the Indian border.