US urge Maoists to refrain from violence

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake has urged the Maoists to refrain from violence during their nationwide strike. Utpal Parashar reports.

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake has urged the Maoists to refrain from violence during their nationwide strike.

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"We welcome Dahal's assurance of peaceful protests, but Maoists would be judged not by their words but by their actions," he said while addressing a press conference on Monday.

Blake who is on a three day visit to Nepal met UCPN (M) chief 'Prachanda' and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and took stock of the peace and constitution drafting processes.

He urged all political parties to work together as Nepal is going through a "critical moment" and consensus is needed to avoid a "constitutional crisis".