Katmandu, Nepal ? The United States canceled a congressional visit and gave the OK for some embassy workers to leave Nepal Wednesday as increasingly violent pro-democracy demonstrations claimed the life of a protester.

Hundreds of protesters in the town of Parasi, 125 miles southwest of the capital, Katmandu, were pelting police with stones and bricks when the officers opened fire, killing one and injuring five others.

King Gyanendra is expected to make a major speech Friday, the Nepali New Year. Gyanendra meeting Wednesday with his ministers to discuss how to handle the crisis, according to local media.