Two central level leaders of UML, Bamdev Gautam and Jhalanath Khanal, who were arrested on Friday at Tribhuwan International Airport were released on Saturday morning.

According to UML source, the leader duo released at around 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The two leaders are also participating in the standing committee meeting of the party organized to discuss the royal address of Friday and future strategy of the party.

Police arrested them as they returned to Kathmandu from the Indian capital, New Delhi, Friday afternoon.

According to reports, Khanal returned at Kathmandu directly from New Delhi while Gautam arrived at bordering town of Bhairahawa and then flew to Kathmandu.

Khanal and Gautam were in the Indian capital for over last two months reportedly negotiating with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leadership. They are said to have played an important role in working out the second memorandum of understanding between the seven party alliance and the Maoists in March this year.

The first understanding was signed in New Delhi in November last year in which Maoists agreed to join the political mainstream and give up violence provided their main demand for holding elections to draft a new constitution were fulfilled. nepalnews.com pb Apr 22 06