Indian official in Nepal to push for democracy talks

Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Sharan talks to media representatives upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu yesterday. Sharan is scheduled to hold talks with King Gyanendra to push for the return of democracy in the Himalayan nation during his three-day visit to Nepal.. PHOTO: AFP

Saran is expected to meet with the leaders of the main political parties as well as King Gyanendra, who sacked a four-party coalition government in February and seized power.

"I came here to hold talks with my old friends in Nepal," Saran said on his arrival in Kathmandu

Saran, a former Indian ambassador to Nepal, is expected to reiterate statements last month by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a South Asian summit calling for the restoration of democracy in Nepal.

Gyanendra, who said he sacked the government for its failure to stem a Maoist rebellion, has pledged to hold local elections in early 2006 and parliamentary elections in 2007.

But an alliance of seven leading political parties has rejected the gesture because they were not consulted and the polls would not address questions on the role of the monarchy.

Local newspaper reports said Saran was also likely to raise the issue of Nepal's import of arms from India's rival China last month.

India, the United States and Britain suspended arms shipments after the royal takeover.