(Updated with corrections, 1657 NST, 1212 GMT)
KATHMANDU, April 23: After failing to convince the ruling coalition to rally behind him on the issue of government action agianst army Chief general Rookmangud Katawal, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has solicited support from the foreign diplomats in Nepal. [break]
He summoned eight* ambassadors early Thursday and "briefed them on the current political developments", a source said. According to embassy sources, the prime minister said the government action was not politically motivated and urged the diplomats not to take it as part of a strategy of the Maoist-led government to control all the state organs.
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Diplomats from India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Norway and Finland were in the briefing. Diplomats from other countries would be briefed later.
"There were discussions on the issues of ongoing peace process and the progress made in the process of army integration," said the source.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai said, "We have assured the diplomats that our party is committed to multiparty democracy and the peace process."
Blaming the Nepali Congress (NC) for spreading negative impression about his party regarding the government action against the army chief, Bhattarai said, "We have also clarified on the false impression created by the Nepali Congress among the foreign missions regarding our party´s intentions."
He alleged that the NC was wrongly telling the diplomats that the Unified CPN (Maoist) is playing up with the Nepal Army for the sake of consolidating power and to have the party´s control over all state organs.
Earlier Thursday morning, PM Dahal held meeting with chief of United Nation Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Karen Landgren and discussed the issue of action against army chief, progress on army integration process and UNMIN´s report being presented in New York regharding Nepal´s situation.
It is clear that the Maoistled government is facing tremendous pressure from the international community to stop action against Katawal. The Secretariat meeting of the ruling UCPN (Maoist) on Wednesdsay asked the government not to take decision on Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal in haste.
Secretariat member C P Gajurel said after the meeting that government action against the army chief was not a matter to be decided immediately because of increasing interest of various forces including India and the USA.
*Corrected.
