Nepal gov't to review secret arms purchase
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Sept 5, IRNA
Nepal-Govt-Arms purchase
A USD 1.4-million arms deal that Nepalese King Gyanendra's regime struck with an Israeli group to fight "terrorism" will now be reviewed by the government in Nepal, Home Minister K P Sitaula said on Monday.
Sitaula broke a week's silence on the part of the government over media reports of a Ukrainian aircraft carrying arms meant for Nepal which were intercepted and grounded at Ahmedabad in India since the last week of August. The consignment reportedly included Israeli-made rifles, ammunition and anti-aircraft missiles.
On Sunday, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat had been quoted by the Kathmandu Post as saying the government and the minister himself were "unaware of the issue."
Contrary to what had been reported in the media, Sitaula clarified that it was the government of Nepal which had asked India not to allow the aircraft into its airspace as the whole deal was being reviewed.
Situala announced that the government has up to November to review the arms deal, although, he added, about USD 180,000 had already been paid as advance to the Israeli supplier.
Prime Minister G P Koirala discussed the issue informally with his cabinet colleagues in the morning and then instructed the home minister to make a statement in parliament.
The government clarification comes a day after Maoist chief Prachanda's public accusation that Crown Prince Paras had struck the deal during his visit to Austria in March last year.
The press secretariat, in its first response to tides of protests and critical media reports against the king's family, denied Crown Prince Paras's involvement in the deal.
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