POKHARAA RESIDENTS CLOSING DOWN POKHARA AIRPORT THURSDAY Kathmandu, 23 Aug.: Residents of Pokhara are forcibly closing down the resort town’s airport Thursday demanding construction of a regional, international airport to service it. The town’s residents have been holding extended protests to press their Demands; they staged a sit-in at Singha Durbar Wednesday. Pokhara dwellers said land for the airport was acquired more than three decades but an airport was never built. Government Wednesday asked concerned not to go ahead with Thursday’s closure. Pokhara is a gateway for tourists traveling into the inner regions on the West. Protests come as China has shown interest in constructing the town’s airport. nnnn., . NEPAL PLAYS MALDIVES IN NEHRU CUP Kathmandu, 23 Aug.: Nepal plays Maldives in the Nehru Cup in the Indian capital later Thursday. Nepal is playing for the first time in the.tournament and has lost six and won three matches. In 13 matches, Nepal and the island atoll has four matches. nnnn