1,200 MORE NEPALIS FROM LIBYA AWAITING AIRLIFT

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: More than 1,200 Nepals workers have fled from Libya to neighbouring countries and are awaiting airlift home, manpower agents said Saturday .
The first batch of 62 workers were flown home Saturday from Egypt by a chartered flight.
Workers said they were looted, their houses torched and went without food for nine days before fleeing to Egypt.
Some reported drinking water and eating aboard the aircraft for the first time in nine days.
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PREPARATIONS FOR SHIVARATRI COMPLETED

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Preparations for Wednesday’s Shivaratri have been completed, officials of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) said.
An estimated 400,000 devotees from home and abroad, particularly, have arrived to observe the holy day at Pashupatinath temple.
Sadus have started camping at the holiest shrine of Hindus at Pashpatinath,
Devotees will have to wait 30 to 45 minutes for entry into the inner sanctum of the temple.
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CAMBODIA PEACE CONFERENCE ON NEPAL PUT OFF

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: A three-day peace conference on Nepal in Cambodia capital from Wednesday sponsored by the Cambodian government and Asian political parties have been put off indefinitely.
Prime Minister Jhalanatah Khanal, Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC President Sushil Koirala were scheduled to attend.
Khanal decided to skip the meet because of delay in expanding his government after election as premier 3 February.
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TWO ARRESTED WITH 41 DETONATORS

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Two persons were arrested with 41 detonators at Nagdhunga with 41 detonators Saturday.
Bharat Ram Yadav and another person were nabbed at the entry point into the Valley from the western end of the Valley.
The bus driver and his help have been arrested.
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SIX NAXALITES KILLED IN BIHAR

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Six Naxalites were today [Saturday] gunned down by
security forces during a five-hour encounter in Majhidih village [across the [Nepal-India border] in Bihar’s Banka district, police said according to a PTI report from Banka.
About twelve heavily-armed Naxalites, who were holed up in a house, opened fire on CRPF and SAP jawans after being asked to surrender.
The encounter lasted for two hours.
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UML STANDING COMMITTEE MEET SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: UML standing committee meets later Sunday to discuss delayed expansion of the four-member cabinet of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.
Khanal and Maoist Prachanda agreed ’in principle’ to expand government.
Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Addhikari said Saturday the delayed government expansion could take place Sunday after the Khanal/Prachanda talks.
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