Nepal, Sept. 19 -- Nepal's deposed prime minister KP Sharma Oli said Friday his government did not order police to open fire on protesters and called for a probe into violence that killed at least 73 people.

In his first statement since stepping down last Tuesday, the 73-year-old said "infiltrators" were responsible for inciting bloodshed during youth-led protests that swept the Himalayan nation beginning September 8.

The demonstrations were sparked by a short-lived ban on social media, but fuelled by anger at corruption and long-standing economic woes.

At least 19 people were killed in a crackdown on the first day.

"Those who infiltrated (the protests) incited violence, resulting in the tragic loss of young lives," Oli said in a post...