UPDATE ANOTHER SEVEN-PARTY ALLIANCE LAUNCHED Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: The seven party Federal Democratic Forum (FDF) was launched Monday. The parties were launched by two opposition Madeshbadi ad five janajatiparties. nnnn . ALL PASSENGERS, CREW SAFE AFTER ANOTHER BIRD HIT Kathmandu, 1 Oct. A bird hit Yeti Airlines fie minutes after takeoff from Pokhara for the capital Monday afternoon but returned and landed safely at the resort town airport. There were 26 passengers and crew The bird hit comes after 19 passengers and crew were killed Friday when a Dronier of Sita Air hit a bird shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu Airport, caught fire, crashed and exploded near the airport. Nnnn ________________________________________ FORMER PM CHAND RULES OUT POSSIBIBITY OF PRESIDENTIAL RULE Kathmandu, 1 Oct : Senior leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and former Prime Minister, Lokendra Bahadur Chanda, has said that consensus among political parties would only give an outlet to the current political stalemate, RSS reports from Nepalgunj.. At a news conference organized by the Banke Working Committee of the Party here on Monday, Chanda said the UCPN-Maoist should be more responsible for forging political consensus as the UCPN-Maoist is the largest party and has been leading the government. Chanda, who is also the former Prime Minister, stressed that the Prime Minister should not be obstacle to the political consensus and added that a trend of sticking to power forcefully cannot be judged right in politics. He further said both reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly (CA) or fresh elections will be acceptable to his party if there is political consensus. Responding to a query, Chanda clarified that there is no possibility of the Presidential rule in the country and added that politics without consensus would not prevail for long in the country. The senior leader suggested that major political parties should forge common views on theoretical issues of constitution writing before consensus for holding elections to the CA. nnnn NC LEADER PAUDEL RULES OUT ALLIANCE WITH ‘UNDEMOCRATIC’ FORCES Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: 1: Nepali Congress Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel has said the Congress would not collaborate with the powers which are in favour of agitation aimed at jeopardizing the social Harmony, RSS reports.. Addressing a party cadres´ gathering of valley level in the capital on Monday, Paudel said the NC that believes in democratic norms and values would not cooperate with the forces jeopardizing social harmony. "The decision of CPN-Maoist of banning the movement of vehicles with Indian number plates and release of Hindi movies in Nepal is not relevant", he said, and claimed that the decision was intended at destablising social harmony. Expressing dissatisfaction over such a move, NC Vice President Paudel said he has talked with the CPN-Maoist leaders on this topic. He stressed the need of continuing talks and discussions among the political parties to forge consensus and give a way out to the nation from the existing crisis as quickly as possible. "Let´s resolve the problems through consensus, and if we are unable to do this, let´s submit everything to the President and retire from politics", said the NC Vice President. He underlined the need of discouraging youths going abroad for jobs by creating job opportunities within the country itself with the control of increasing price hike and poverty alleviation. Also speaking on the occasion, NC Publicity Department chief Dr Minendra Rijal claimed that the UCPN (Maoist) is not ready to accept the NC leadership since it wants its dominance in the new constitution. Nepal Press Union President Kiran Pokhrel said press freedom and freedom of expression is at risk due to the prolonging transition in the country. Nnnn ________________________________________