King grants audience to cabinet vice-chairmen duo; Home Minister holds security meeting

His Majesty King Gyanendra gave joint audience to the vice-chairmen duo of the Council of Ministers, Dr Tulsi Giri and Kirti Nidhi Bista, at the Narayanhity Royal Palace Sunday.

Dr Giri and Bista went to the Royal Palace at around 11:45 a.m. and came out after one hour, reports said.

Immediately after the royal audience, the vice-chairmen duo called a meeting of the cabinet in Singh Durbar, which was still underway till 5:00 p.m.

The royal audience and the hasty cabinet meeting came as the nationwide general strike called by the seven opposition parties entered the 11th day with intensified protests.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Kamal Thapa organised a meeting of the chiefs of security agencies at his office in Singh Durbar this afternoon. Heads of all four security agencies – the Royal Nepalese Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department – were present at the meeting, according to sources. nepalnews.com mk Apr 16 06