Foreign secretary Saran meets political leaders

Kathmandu, July 26: Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met leaders of various political parties in Kathmandu and pledged Indian support to strengthenning democracy and peace process in Nepal.

Mr Saran met speaker of the House Subhash Nemwang and General Secretary of the CPN (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal separately yesterday.

They discussed the current political situation during the meeting, a leader of the party said without giving details of the talks.

Mr Saran also met Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan and discussed the present political situation of the Himalayan nation.

"The Foreign Secretary of India has assured me that the Maoists leaders in Indian prisons would be released'' The Himalayan Times quoted Mr Sherchan as saying.

Mr Sherchan said India believes that "Nepal has come through a big change only because of the alliance between the Seven-Party-Alliance (SPA) and the Maoists." Mr Saran discussed issues like finding a peaceful end to the conflict, arms management, interim constitution, government, constituent assembly and its election, he said.

Mr Saran had met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Sunday.

A former ambassador of India to Nepal, he was in Nepal to attend a two-day conference of Indian ambassadors of SAARC countries.

UNI