Britain provides 14 million dollar aid for Nepal elections

Kathmandu, Apr 4 : The Gordon Brown Government of Britain has announced 14 million dollar aid to support the April 10 Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal.

The money will also be used to strengthen the peace process and to improve human rights situation.

"The UK is pleased to support peace and development in Nepal, and both are vital for a new Nepal to be created," the British Embassy release quoted UK ambassador Andrew Hall, as saying.

"All of Nepal is looking forward to the elections on April 10, although we deplore the levels of violence and intimidation taking place across the country, and call on all parties to campaign peacefully. The people of Nepal have waited more than half a century for these elections, their chance to decide on a new constitution, and they should have the right to choose their new representatives free from threat or intimidation," the ambassador added.

Bella Bird, Head of the Department for International Development (DfID), said: "The UK is providing a further 14 million dollar in support of elections and for other key areas of the peace process, as well as efforts to improve human rights and ensure those who committed human rights abuses in the past are brought to justice."

The money will go to the Nepal Peace Trust Fund (10 million dollar), the UN Peace Fund (2.6 million dollar) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (2 million dollar), nepalnews.com reported.

ANI