IRAN VISIT VERY SUCCESSFUL SAYS PM Kathmandu, 1 Sept : Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has said the Iran visit of a Nepali delegation under his leadership was very successful, RSS reports. Talking to National News Agency (RSS) reporter, Ramesh Lamsal, the PM said the importance of the Non-Aligned Movement was growing. At the Esteghal Hotel of Tehran, he claimed that the meeting he held with heads of different governments and countries was fruitful. "NAM needs to be more active in the days ahead, and this need was highlighted by the Tehran Summit as the Summit was very successful to this regard," he claimed. Similarly, PM Bhattarai claimed that the issues he raised in the Summit as global fraternity, world peace, address to poverty, were common issues and therefore very important. Moreover, being a chair of the least developed countries, and the founding member of the NAM, Nepal´s participation in the Summit was meaningful, he said, adding that they put forth the views respecting Nepalis´ aspirations. During the Summit, Prime Minister Bhattarai met with UN Secretary General, Indian and Bangladeshi Prime Ministers, Iranian President, and dignitaries from Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and others. According to the PM, the meetings with these personalities were significant to strengthen Nepal´s international relations. During the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh, Prime Minister Bhattarai urged the Indian PM to immediately provide 200 MW electricity as said earlier, and to extend the financial assistances. PM Bhattarai made special request with his Indian counterpart to extend significant help in the economic development in Nepal.Moreover, they talked about the political transition in Nepal. Similarly, it was a great opportunity to Nepal to have talks with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. General Secretary Moon said the UN was studying Nepal´s political development with special attention and was hopeful that Nepal would forge consensus soon and complete the tasks of establishing peace and writing constitution. PM took this very positively and told the Secretary General Moon that continuous discussions among political parties would clear the political deadlock and his party was committed to this end. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took Nepal´s stand and continuous participation in the NAM very positively, claimed the PM. Iranian President said the Iranian government was ready to extend help to Nepal in the sectors of economic and tourism development.This way, the Iran visit was very successful, the PM said, adding the objection of the opposition parties for this visit was meaningless. nnnn. ________________________________________ REK BAHADUR GURUNG ELECTED NC CHITWAN DISTRICT PRESIDENT Kathmandu, 1 Sept Tek Prasad Gurung has been elected district president of the Nepali Congress in Chitwan, RSS reportsfrom Ratnanagar, Chitwan.. Gurung defeated his contestant Bikas Koirala with 367 against 140 votes. A special convention of the party in the district last night elected the new leadership. As none got majority in the first round of election, second round was held. But, Bikas Koirala said security was not ensured in the second round and the voters were given undue pressure. Similarly, Jit Narayan Shrestha has been elected secretary while Surbir Pokhrel treasurer. For 28-member new committee, 83 had fielded candidacies. nnnn ONE OF THREE AIRPORTS SERVICING EVEREST REGION CLOSED DOWN AT BEGINNING OF TOURIST SEASON Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: Passengers to and from Solukhumbu have suffered as flights were canceled due to adverse weather. No flights have come to Phaplu and Lukla since Tuesday, RSS reports.. Tourists and patients have been facing trouble as no flights took place because of zero visibility, said CAAN Phaplu ATC Officer Kedar Prasad Satyal. The Kangeldanda Airport of Solukhumbu district has turned into grazing field as cattle, sheep and goats graze after the air services were completely closed there since May 21. One Binod Basnet says the shepherds bring their cattle to graze here as the cattle would not runaway because there is barbed wire all around. They bring here to graze as cattle will not run away and there is pond for swimming nearby, said another shepherd Parbat Basnet. They have been grazing as the police airport guards do not obstruct them. There is no need for security as no aircraft comes, said Head Constable Devi Maya Baniya. We allowed them when the villagers demanded as they also used to graze before the airport was built. However, Nepal Airlines Kangel in-Charge Narayankaji Karki said it should not be taken lightly, when we allow grazing, the cow dung will have insects which makes soil softer causing the aircraft wheels to go down, therefore, they should not be allowed to graze. The services in the airport has been affected as there are no staff in the airport's CAAN office. CAAN staff come on deputation and leave very soon. This is the southern airport of Solukhumbu district which has the largest number of three airports. It can benefit a total of 25 VDCs including some 15 VDCs of southern and eastern Solukhumbu, three of Okhaldhunga and seven of Khotang. The airport construction was started in 2050/51 BS and had first test flight in 2058 BS. Nnnn TEMPO DRIVER RAPES MURDERS WOMAN IN RAUTAHAT Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: : The Rautahat police have arrested one Bhagwandas Tatma for killing a woman after rape here few days back, RSS reports from Rautahat. He allegedly raped Usha Devi Saha alias Muniya in the night of August 26 at Auriya VDC in the district and then killed her. He was made public through a press conference on Friday. Tempo driver Tatma, 27, is a resident of Tikuliya, Gaur Municipality-7. He admitted to committing a crime before the police. According to the statement given by Tatma to the police, he took Saha to a garden promising her escorting to her home on his tempo and raped her. The incident took place at around 9:00 pm. The accused claimed that Saha was accidently strangulated with her clothes during rape, said Superintendent of police Thule Rai. RSS Nnnn