Army ready to provide security for polls

Army ready to provide security for the recently pledged general elections to be held by April 2005.

Nepal Army today said it is prepared to make necessary security arrangements for the general elections in the Himalayan kingdom.

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"We are ready to provide security if the government announces election," Royal Nepal Army spokesman Brig Gen Rajendra Thapa told reporters at a press meet at the army headquarters.

But it is the responsibility of the government to announce the election, he said.

Nepal King Gyanendra has recently pledged to hold general elections within April 2005.

He said the army has achieved significant success in curbing the Maoist terror by launching Mahakil operation in western Nepal.

"The Maoists are in a defeated mentality that's why they are resorting to guerilla warfare techniques like blocking the road and killing civilians," he said.

During the operations conducted in the Highways since April 27, the government forces have gunned down 113 guerillas, and in turn lost 24 soldiers, he said.

He also rejected the Maoist claim that they have made mid-western Nepal district Rolpa as their base area. "There is no part in all over the country, where the Army cannot go, so they have no base area at all," he said.