TOP US DIPLOMAT FOR SOUTH ASIA ARRIVES Kathmandu, 10 Sept.: US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert O Blake Jr, arrived Monday for two-day visit coinciding with a number of major developments in Nepal-US bilateral ties. The two countries are conducting their first joint military exercise in Kaski codenamed “Pacific Angel Nepal” one day after Gen. Gaurav Shumshere Rana was installed as Army Chief on the recommendation of a Maoist-led government. Washington withdrew a terrorist watch-list against Maoists and sent back a group of Peace Corps volunteers to Nepal eight years after withdrawing them during a Maoist insurgency. Peter W. Bodde also presents his credentials Monday as US Ambassador to President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav succeeding Scott H. Delisi.. Blake will meet with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chief of Nepal Army Gaurav Sumsher Rana and other government officials to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues. He will also meet business leaders, Tibetan community representatives, civil society leaders and human rights activists, the uS embassy said. nnnn.