80 Asian poll observers arrive in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Apr 3 : Former Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Army General (retired) Saiyud Kerdphol-led 80 poll observers' team from the Asian countries arrived here on Thursday to monitor the April 10 Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal.

Arrival of 80 observers bring the total number of Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) observers to over 100 from 22 Asian countries, ANFREL said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 44 short-term election observers of the European Union are set to leave Kathmandu for various districts, nepalnews.com reported.

EU election observation mission have 120 people from 22 different EU countries as well as Norway and Switzerland, which makes it the largest international election observation mission in Nepal.

Jan Mulder, a Dutch Member of the European Parliament, leads the mission.

"We are watching the security situation in the country very carefully and hope that our presence in large numbers all over Nepal will contribute to a more peaceful environment and greater confidence in the election," Mulder said.

ANI