Nepal's violent protests caused an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, when parliament, government offices and a newly-opened Hilton Hotel were set ablaze.

At least 72 people were killed in two days of anti-corruption protests, with scores more badly injured, according to official figures.

Losses were estimated at 25 billion Nepali rupees ($266 million), with more than 2,000 workers affected. Damage to the Hilton alone was put as high as $83 million.

"So much has been destroyed," police spokesman Binod Ghimire told AFP, adding that it would take time to calculate the full extent of the damage, including outside the capital.

Nepal's new interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, speaking as she began work on Sunday, described the "widespread loss of lives and property".

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