At least 10 persons killed in MI-17 copper crash (BREAKING NEWS)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 3 March: At least 10 persons were killed when a Russian MI-17 helicopter with UNMIN crashed at Bethani, over Ramechap Monday at around 4.30 in the afternoon.
Their bodies have been recovered.
There was a blast and it crashed in stormy weather condition.
The home ministry said there were five Nepalese and seven foreign passengers, excluding crew members.
One report said there were three Russian crew members; this was not officially confirmed.
UNMIN didn’t release a passenger list nor the number of passengers and crew.
Home ministry said a search and rescue continue for the missing in bad weather condition.
A film crew quoted by Channel Nepal said they could not film the blast over the Ramechap sky.
The chopper crash may have damaged some houses, the film crew members said.
The chopper took-off for the capital from Sindhuli, and lost contact with the tower at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Ramechap is between the capital and Sindhuli about 150 km southeast of the capital.
One report said UNMIN officials were weapons advisors; UNMIN oversees a Maoist camp in Sindhuli.
The cause of the crash is not known so far.
Another report said there was an explosion and the chopper caught fire after an explosion.
Another report said the chopper was hit by lightning.
Most helicopter crashes in Nepal have involved MI-17 Russian helicopters.
Twenty-four persons were killed, including former tourism minister Harkha Gurung, in the worst chopper crash in Nepal on 23 September 2006 also involving a MI-17 helicopter.
Nnnn


Has full list of Congress defectors

Kathmandu, 3 March: Six top Congress leaders, including Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar and Sarad Singh Bhandari, quit Nepali Congress and resigned from parliament Monday.
Others who defected are: Laxman Mehta, Hari Chaudhary Ram Janam Chaudhary and Mangal Tharu.
They defected to Madesh Jatantrik Forum led by Upendra Yadav.
um Chairman Upendra Yadav welcomed the Congress defectors.
Conservative RPP’s Abhisehk Pratap Shah also quit RPP and joined the Forum.
The defections ahead of the 10 April constituent assembly elections are serious setbacks for the prospects of the Congress and RPP in elections.
The prospects of the two parties in the terai will be diminished with the defections
Nnnn



Nepal asks China to extend Tibet railway link

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 3 March: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Monday asked visiting Chinese Foreign Assistant Minister He Yafei to extend the Beijing, Lhasa railway line to Nepal.
At a time when supplies of POL products have become irregular from India, Koirala also asked China to supply Nepal with POL products.
Koirala made the request when an official revealed Nepal has a secret agreement with New Delhi only to import POL products from India, making Nepal completely dependent of the southern neighbour for the supply of the strategic materials to the Himalayan kingdom.
The requests were made as India last year attempted to restrict Nepalese purchases of arms and ammunition from countries other than India amid Nepali resistance.
The Chinese visitor also held defence talks Monday with Chief of the Army Staff Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Details of the discussions weren’t disclosed.
But China has, in the past, expressed discontent with the cancellation of defence contracts with Beijing following a regime change in which the royal regime was toppled by the present government of Girija Prasad Koirala.
Bilateral Nepal, China talks began Monday to review cultural, economic and political relations.
Chinese team is led by Assistant Minister He and the Nepalese side in headed by Foreign Secretary Gyan Chand Acharya.
Talks will last for three days.
Acharya said officials peace process and Chinese economic assistance were discussed.
nnnn


India, USA to discuss Nepal [Excerpts]

New Delhi, 2 March: US deputy secretary of state in-charge of South Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, will visit
‘Boucher will India on Tuesday, The Himalayan Times reports.
His visit will also feature a discussion on the recent political developments in Nepal.
“Boucher will meet Indian foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon,. He will hold discussions on political developments in Nepal and Pakistan and on Indo-US atomic energy accord,” a source said.
nnnn