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PM speaks to Koirala, offers Nepal all help
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday assured Nepal all help in its economic recovery.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday assured Nepal all help in its economic recovery.
The assurance came during Manmohan Singh's telephonic conversation with Nepalese Prime Minister-designate Girija Prasad Koirala, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.
Koirala was to be have been sworn in on Friday when the reconvened parliament met after a four-year gap but could not take oath as he was unwell. He will take office in a day or two, Nepalese officials said.
Manmohan Singh extended his good wishes to Koirala for a speedy recovery and on his assuming office as Prime Minister, the spokesman said.
The Nepal parliament met for about half an hour and the nearly 200 MPs, politicians and human rights activists present in the house broke into thunderous applause when the 84-year-old Koirala's message was read out.
Koirala said he was committed to upholding people's wishes and was directing the house to begin urgent discussions on how to initiate elections to write a new constitution that would transform Nepal into a republic, if people so desired.
He also said he was committed to holding a dialogue with the Maoist guerrillas at the earliest, declare a ceasefire on behalf of the government and create an atmosphere free from fear and violence.
The house gave a thunderous ovation to Sitaram Yechuri, leader of the Communist party of India-Marxist, who watched the proceedings as part of an Indian delegation.
