SHARE PRICES CONTINUED TO GAIN Kathmndu, 23 Dec.: Share prices gained despite political uncertainty on the first day of five-day weekly trading Sunday. Nepse closed at 519.64 points after gaining 1.77 points. Altogether 424, 309 shares were traded for Rs. 136.917 million in 1671 transactions. nnnn BOMB DFUSED IN POKHARA HOTEL Kthmandu, 23 Dec.: A bomb disposal unit of Nepal Army Sunday defused a bomb at Pokhara’s Lake Side Hotel management was informed telephonically of the hidden bomb. Nnnn KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI’S 89TH BIRTHDAY OBSERVED Kathmandu, 23 Dec.: The 89th birthday of former Prime Minster Krishna Prasad Bhttarain was observed Sunday. He quit the NC—the party he founded- after Girija Prasad Koirala pushed a republican agenda. Bhattarai was considered a principled politician. He was elected prime minister after leading the party to victory following the restoration of banned parties in 1990. nnnn