US continues to watch situation in Nepal

Washington, May 29: The Bush Administration continues to watch the situation in Nepal, urging forward political development in the Himalayan Kingdom.

State Department's Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey made this observation yesterday in reply to a question about reported violence in the Himalayan nation. He said he was not aware of any particular bombings or other kinds of violent actions in Nepal yesterday. "There's been a political transition. There have been elections. The new government is in place and moving forward," Casey said.

He, however, made no specific comment on the decision of Nepal's newly-elected Constituent Assembly to declare the former Himalayan kingdom a republic, abolishing 239-year-old monarchy.

The State Department spokesman said the US officials had some conversations with Nepalese official, in part, to verify that some of the efforts that we can make in terms of being able to provide humanitarian assistance and other programmes are going to be able to move forward.

Meanwhile, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan Feigenbaum will hold an on-the-record briefing on his recent trip to Nepal for journalists at the Department of State later in the day today.

During his stay in Nepal, he met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the leaders of Nepal's four largest parties (Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist, Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist-Leninist, and Madhesi People's Rights Forum) to discuss the formation of a new interim government, a need for the end of political violence, and efforts to craft a new democratic constitution.

UNI