India, US envoys oppose Nepal's Maoist entry

New Delhi, March 2(IRNA) Indian Ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee and American Ambassador James Moriarty met various political leaders separately on Thursday urging the interim government not to admit the Maoists because of their intimidatory statements and `understating' of arms in the registration process carried out by the United Nations.

According to a report published here Friday in an english daily, "Indian Express", Press officer of the Indian Embassy Gopal Bagalay said Mukherjee discussed Nepal's current political scenario during his meeting with Prime Minister Koirala but refused to give details.

Moriarty, on the other hand, met with Speaker Subhash Nembwang a day after his meeting with Communist Party General Secretary Madhav Nepal, saying that the reported understating of arms by Maoist cadres needs to be taken seriously.

The perceived under-reporting of arms comes in the wake of Maoist parliamentarian Lokendra Bista daring the government on the floor of the House to take away the arms in his possession.

Home Minister K P Sitaula not only refused to act, but also apologised for privete security personnel of two Maoist MPs being forced to deposit their arms before they entered the House last week.