Nepal PM Dahal leaves for US today

Kathmandu, Sep 20 (UNI) Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ''Prachanda'' left for the United States today to attend the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

This is the third foreign visit of Mr Dahal after China and India since he became Prime Minister nearly two months ago.

'Prachanda', who is leaving a 12-member delegation including Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, foreign secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya and chief secretary Upendra Yadav, will stop over in Germany and address Nepalese ambassadors based in European countries. Nepal's Communist PM Dahal is scheduled to address the General Assembly of the UN on Friday. He is scheduled to return on October 1.

''Prachanda'' had visited India last week but before that he visited China breaking the tradition of Nepal's prime minister visiting India before embarking on a visit of any third country.

The US has not removed the Maoists party from its terrorist list so far.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has appointed deputy prime minister and home minister Bam Dev Gautam as the acting prime minister during the absence of PM Dahal.

Before leaving for the US, the prime minister met Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Ian Martin, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood, UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal, People's Front Acting Chairman Leela Mani Pokhrel and leader Amik Sherchan.

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