. UN OFFICIAL COMING, UN CHIEF WELCOMES DEVELOPMENTS Kathmandu, 15 March: United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman arrives Tuesday for a three-day visit following Thursday’s installation of Khil Raj Regmi as chief an interim election council. Regmi will function as prime minister after Baburam Bhattahai left office in more than 18 months following intense pressures from home and abroad. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the visit is to express commitment for cooperation. “The visit will be an opportunity to express the continued commitment of the United Nations to cooperate closely with Nepal in support of progress in the peace process.” United Nations welcomed the formation of interim election Council while urging stakeholders to create conducive environment for the cononstituent assembly elections.. "Secretary General Ban ki-moon welcomes the appointment of an Interim Electoral Council which has ended the protracted stalemate in Nepal," the UN leader's spokesperson said in a statement, "He urges all actors to create a conducive environment for the next elections and to maintain the momentum to implement the outstanding commitments of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement." nnnn JAPAN URGES EARLY ASSEMBLY ELECTION Kathmandu, 15 March: Japan, through its embassy, hoped constituent assembly election will be held on time while congratulating chief of the interim election council Khil Raj Regmi. Japan called for a vote without delay. Government and people of Japan are ready to assist Nepal's effort, the embassy added. Nnnn LARGE CONSIGNMENT OF HEMP SEIZED IN PARSA Kathmandu, 15 March:: Police seized around one quintal of marijuana from Dhore VDC in Parsa district on Friday, RSS rports from Parsa. A police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector at the Police Post, Dhore, Anu Adhikari confiscated 90 kilograms of marijuana left unattended at a farm in Dhore VDC-9. The seized marijuana has been handed over to the Area Police Office, Pokhariya, and search for smugglers is underway, said police. nnnn