US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty met with CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday morning and discussed the issue of arms management and the ongoing peace process.

American Ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty and CPN (UML) General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal speak to reporters after a meeting in the UML central office in Kathmandu, Saturday, Sep 16 06. nepalnews.com/rh

American Ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty and CPN (UML) General…
The meeting was held at the UML central office in Balkhu. The meeting lasted for nearly an hour, according to an UML source.

During the meeting, Moriarty reiterated the US government’s stance that the arms of the Maoist combatants should separated from them before they could be brought to the interim government, the source said.

The meeting was organised soon after the return of Moriarty from western Nepal. Reports said that the US ambassador had inspected the army barracks and met with senior army officials there.

The US envoy’s visit to western districts has come under strong criticism from various sides including the political parties and the civil society leaders.

Talking to reporters after the meeting in Balkhu, Moriarty said the Maoists should stop extortion and abduction immediately and renounce violence if they want to be included into the government. He said violation of code of conduct on part of the Maoists had been increasing.

General secretary Nepal told reporters that he would meet with Prime Minister GP Koirala this afternoon to discuss the latest political development in the country but did not elaborate on the issues discussed with Moriarty.