Nepali guerrillas urged to lay down weapons before joining interim gov't

Visiting United States Congressmen Jim Kolbe and Brian Baird have said they support Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's position that the Nepali guerrillas must lay down their weapons before joining the interim government.

Addressing a brief press meeting here on Monday, Kolbe said it will be impossible to have democracy and stability if one side continued to have arms.

"In order to move this peace process further, they (the guerrillas) must keep their arms aside," he stressed.

When asked regarding the role of the United Nations in Nepal's peace process, Kolbe said whatever the mandate of the UN, it will not include the ability to use force to disarm the guerrillas.

It was absolutely essential that the guerrillas must agree to set aside their arms and take part in the political process, Kolbe said, adding "they are acting in a fashion that is contrary to the peace agreement and contrary to the view of Nepali people."

The four-member delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Jim Kolbe arrived in Kathmandu Friday morning for a four- day visit.

Source: Xinhua