India, UN to help Nepal for smooth transition

Berlin, June 7 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon today affirmed their commitment to helping Nepal in going through the current transition phase in an orderly and peaceful manner.

The issue figured at the talks the two leaders had here ahead of tomorrow's G8-Outreach 5 summit at Heiligendamm, the Baltic sea resort about 250 km north of here.

Mr Ban said UN had an active role in Nepal for facilitating free and fair elections to the Constituent Assembly.

Both the leaders said they looked forward to helping Nepal, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters.

There was also a general exchange of views on regional and global situation at the ''productive and useful meeting'', he said.

UNI