DEMOCRACY WOULD HAVE BEEN THRETENED HAD MAOISTS CONTNUED IN POWER SAYS SUSHIL KOIRALA Kathmandu, 15 March: Main opposition NC President Sushil Koirala said Frday democracy would have been threatened had Maoists continued in government. “Democracy would have been threatened had Maoists continued in office. The present moves were to save democracy,” Koirala said in Biratnagar Friday. Nnnn CHINESE ENVOY HOLDS DISCUSSIONS WITH UML CHIEF KHANAL Kathmandu, 15 March: New Chinese Ambassador Wu Chuntai Friday held discussions with UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal. “ We are very proud that China has now become second largest economy of the world. We want China to continue to make further progress in the days to come,” Khanal told the envoy. Chairman Prachanda was the first party leader Wi met after formally assuming responsibilities last week. Nnnn . ATTORNEY GENERAL PRADHAN RESIGNS Kathmandu, 15 March: Attorney General Mukti Pradhan resigned Friday with government change. The chief legal advisor of the government of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had been criticized for acting like a party activist. He was dragged into controversy for intervening in writing to stop police investigation into murder seven years ago by Maoists of journalist Dekendra Thapa of Dailekh. Pradhas resigned with Thursday’s government change and his move is considered normal. Nnnn ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMME TO BE EXTENDED TO 15 MORE DISTRICTS Kathmandu, 15 March : The Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) has decided to extend its programs in the additional 15 districts, RSS reports.. The PAF has selected the districts for the programs and to bring them into implementation, said Yubaraj Pandey, Vice-chairman of PAF. Speaking at a program organized by CWIN Nepal, a non-governmental organization working for the rights of children, he said, "The PAF has been providing economic support to the demanded programs from poor community." The PAF has mobilized the support programs forming some 22,000 community organizations targeting the extreme backward and poor people below poverty line. The PAF would identify the people, whom their income could not support all the year round, and provide loans by affiliating them in the community organizations. During the program, Executive Director of the Department of Cottage and Small Industry Gokul Dhital, said the organization has targeted the youths and run various income generating trainings. Likewise, Program Officer of the CWIN Nepal, Tarak Dhital, stressed that the government should bring different income, skill-oriented programs to address the needs of the youths. nnnn