PM Thapa says elections only outlet

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa reiterated Monday election was the only outlet to resolve the current political crisis.

He said this while launching the Nepal Press Club in Lalitpur. He asked all to join in the political mainstream and prepare for elections. Thapa added the government was still ready for a dialogue, understanding and talks to resolve outstanding issues.

Government was going ahead with election preparations, he said. Published reports said government has decided to hold local elections in May next year; an official announcement has not been made.

RPP President Pashupati SJB Rana, in a newspaper interview Monday, again called for Thapa's resignation and said elections cannot be held now. "The resignation will come sooner or later," Rana said.

Rana claimed Thapa was an obstacle to forming an all party government with the understanding of parliamentary parties; that was the only solution to the crisis. nepalnews.com br Dec.15

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Security forces survive ambush

A joint security patrol miraculously survived a Maoist ambush Monday near a river in Mohottari one day after 11 armed policemen and four others were killed in the district in a surprise attack, regional police said.

The motor vehicle was damaged in the explosion on a diversion gravel road. A team consisting of army and police personnel was going to Nawalparasi for a regional conference when the government forces were surprised.

A brief gun battle ensued in a nearby jungle following the surprise attack. nepalnews.com br Dec.15

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NEA not to accept all conditions of Mid-Marsyangdi contractor'

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Sunday decided not to accept all the conditions put forth by the main civil works contractor of the Middle Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project, DDC-JV, the Kathmandu Post said Monday.

The NEA board meeting came to the conclusion that accepting all the new conditions would increase the cost of the project, the daily said, quoting sources.

In a letter sent on Friday, the DDC-JV had listed fresh conditions for the resumption of the works that have been stalled since November 7 this year, the daily said.

In the event of the DDC-JV refusing to resume the stalled work, the negotiating team of the NEA will have the right to look for alternative arrangements, the daily quoted Minister Sarbendra Nath Shukla, as saying. Shukla is the current chairman of NEA. nepalnews.com mr Dec 15

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Guides save two Dutch tourists

Two Nepali guides saved two Dutch tourists Saturday deep inside the Royal Chitwan National Park by fighting a tigress with bare hands and sticks.

The tigress retreated into the jungle with her cubs after a 20-minute battle. "We lost all hope of survival after a tigress suddenly pounded on us. But the brave Nepali guides not save out lives but they also 
saved themselves.," Ralph P.Lith and Jup Van Paikin told Nepal Samacharpatra.

Megnath Niraula and Dipak Adhikari were badly mauled in the attack. They hit the tigress on the nose and head with bamboo sticks forcing a retreat. nepalnews.com br Dec.15

Maoist attacks continue

Maoists caused several million rupees in damage in overnight attacks on Bara district development committee office and 17 ward office of Birgunj municipality, regional police said.

A peon and gardener at the district development office were injured in the explosion.

Rebels torched two motor vehicles donated by the British Government to a forestry project in Butwal Sunday. Rebels stepped up attacks in the Terai ahead of strike call by the Madesh Mukti Morcha, an affiliate of the rebels, Monday.

Rebels set off an explosion at the traffic office in Birtamodh, Jhapa, Monday. First reports said the strike has affected the terai districts from Jhapa to Banke in far west Nepal. nepalnews.com br Dec.15

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Muscular dystrophy patients

Nepal has recorded 142 cases of muscular dystrophy, the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation said. But the actual number of cases could be higher as most cases have not been reported.

The Foundation was established five months ago to raise awareness about the disease. The Foundation met Sunday to take measures and to chalk out strategies to fight the disease. 
nepalnews.com br Dec.15 

Maj.Gen. Chitra Bahadur Gurung promoted

Major Gen. Chitra Bahadur Gurung was promoted to Lt.Gen. Monday morning, Army sources said. He was head of the Central Divisional Headquarters in Pokhara.

The promotion comes after Lt.Gen. Victory Shumshere Rana was superannuated Sunday; Lt.Gen Rana retired as Chief of the General Staff. It was not known to which office Lt.Gen.Gurung will be assigned.. nepalnews.com br Dec.15 

Student unions announce nationwide stir

Seven student organisations, affiliated with the five parties' block Sunday announced a nationwide stir from December 18 to protest the killing of a student Suresh Baral, allegedly by the security forces in Pokhara Friday.

According to reports from the lake city, the students will organise protest rallies in Pokhara on December 18, to be followed by corner meetings and black flag demonstrations in all educational institutions across the country.

A joint meeting of the seven student organisations held in Kathmandu on Sunday took the decision to protest the killing of the innocent student Baral, Rajdhani said.

The students have put forth demands, such as, action against the culprits, due compensation to Baral's family, and proper education and free medical treatment to Mankaji Gurung. Gurung sustained injuries in the cross firing between the security forces and Maoists in the same incident.

"If the government does not take any decision against the guilty, we will be compelled to continue our protests," said Rajendra Rai, president of ANNFSU, affiliated with the CPN-UML. nepalnews.com mr Dec 15

Everest Marathon booked as world's highest

The Guinness book of world records has registered The Everest Marathon, Nepal's high altitude marathon as the highest marathon in the world, the Kathmandu Post said Monday.

The international record-book has entered the race under the category "Marathon at the Highest Altitude", the daily said.

"The Guinness book record has said that the Everest Marathon, first run on November 27, 1987, starts at the highest altitude."

The 42-km long race begins at Gorak Shep, 5,212 metres (17,100 ft.) and ends at Namche Bazar, 3,444 metres (11,300), the daily said.

Himalayan Expeditions is the official organisers of the race. Its tenth edition is being held in May 2004, according to the daily. nepalnews.com mr Dec 15

Nepali Prof. Joshi awarded in USA

Dr. Tulsi Joshi, professor of geography at the Fairmont State College, West Virginia, is the recipient of this year's Cyrus R Vance Award for International Education, the Himalayan Times said Monday.

The award, which carries a purse of $ 5,000 and a unique Blenko-designed hand-blown glass decanter, recognises exemplary educators and educational organisations in international education, the daily said.

Joshi was one of the 20 educators and educational organisations nominated for the award. He was honoured for his 30 years of teaching at Fairmont College, his work for the college's International Education Committee and for creating scholarships for international students, the daily said.

As a member and ex-chairman of Fairmont State's International Education Committee, Joshi was instrumental in establishing the international scholarships and organising the International Week observed at the campus every year, according to the daily.

In 1989, Joshi helped in establishing the Nepal Scholarship program at the college. Currently, 22 Nepali students are attending school there under this program.

The award was established by the state of West Virginia in 2001 in honour of former US Secretary of State Vance. nepalnews.com mr Dec 15

Saddam makes headlines in Nepali media

Saddam Hussein Monday made prominent front-page coverage in all broadsheets being published from Kathmandu, Nepal. It was already a "breaking news" in the global electronic media Sunday evening, after the joint forces captured Saddam from a hideout in Iraq.

"Saddam captured in hometown", the Kathmandu Post said with a sub-headline "One of history's big manhunt comes to an end". Kantipur said, "Saddam arrested". Its sub-headline was "(Saddam) will be put to trial: Bush". Another daily Nepal Samacharpatra said, "US troops capture Saddam"

Likewise, Space Time said, "Saddam Hussein arrested by US forces" and Annapurna Post said, "Saddam Hussein arrested inside Iraq". "Sacked President Saddam Hussein arrested" was the headline in Rajdhani, whereas, the Himalayan Times said, "Saddam is run to earth". Its sub-headlines were "(Saddam) is unrepentant, talkative, say US captors" and "Being held in undisclosed location".

State-run media the Rising Nepal and Gorkhapatra also gave major coverage to the arrest of Saddam from his hometown, Tikrit, in northern Iraq Saturday. "Saddam Hussein captured" was the headline in the Rising Nepal, whereas, Gorkhapatra wrote "Saddam Hussein arrested from spider-like hole."

Nepali electronic media also aired the arrest news Sunday evening, treating it as the first priority news. Those electronic media were state-owned Nepal TV and Radio Nepal, and private sector-owned Kantipur TV, Channel Nepal, Image Metro, Kantipur FM and Radio HBC, among others. nepalnews.com mr Dec 15

Explosion in Biratnagar

Maoists exploded powerful bombs in the office building of Ward No. 8 in the eastern city of Biratnagar at 6:30 pm Sunday, radio reports said. 

The explosion destroyed windows of the office and drinking water pipes, the reports said. No one is reported dead or injured, as the incident occurred in the off hours, the reports said. 

Police has tightened security in and around the area, which is near Devkota Chowk and is at 200 metres' distance from the District Police Office, the reports said. 

Meanwhile, two blasts have also been reported in Birgunj and Butwal. No any untoward incidents happened in the two separate blasts, details of which could not be received instantly, the reports said. nepalnews.com mr Dec.14

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Civilian shot dead in Birgunj

A civilian, reportedly having a criminal background, has been shot dead by another gang in Birgunj at 8 pm Sunday evening, radio reports said, quoting local police. 

The gang shot dead Umesh Sahani near his home and fled away, the reports said, adding, police are  been looking for the culprits. nepalnews.com mr Dec 14

Elections soon, says Dr. Lohani

The government is committed to hold elections in the country soon, Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani reiterated Sunday. 

"We hope all parties will take part in the elections," Dr. Lohani said in an interaction program organised by the Reporters' Club Sunday. 

He further said the government is working to restore peace. "We will hold elections after restoring peace in the country." Unified Command and mobile service, Dr. Lohani said, were the success of achieved by the government.  

On the same occasion, UML leader Bamdev Gautam said the government's commitment to hold election in the nation is "fake". "The government stance, that elections can be held in this (worsening) situation, is baseless" Gautam said. nepalnews.com mr Dec 14

Uddav Dev Bhatta dead

Uddav Dev Bhatta died of a heart attack Sunday, family sources said. He died while he was being rushed to a hospital in the capital. 

Bhatta is a former foreign secretary and Ambassador to the United Nations. He was also a former member of the National Assembly, Parliament's upper chamber. nepalnews.com br Dec.14