Nepal seeks US help against rebels

The state of emergency has failed to check rebel strikes

Two senior Nepalese officials left Kathmandu on Monday for the United States to seek help for the government's campaign against Maoist rebels.

Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya is the most senior Nepalese official to journey to Washington since the Maoist rebellion began six years ago.

Nepal wants Mr Powell to offer 'practical' help

Mr Acharya's trip follows a visit to Nepal by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who assured Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba of American support to his government's campaign.

Nepalese security forces have been engaged in a bloody combat with the rebels for several months under a state of emergency, but have not been able to end rebel attacks.

Mr Acharya and the Spokesman for Nepal's Foreign Ministry, GC Acharya, left Kathmandu in the wake of a series of attacks by the Maoists in one of which around 30 people were wounded.

US sympathy

A bomb blast in Kathmandu on Friday was criticised by the US, with a State Department spokesman asking the rebels to end their "brutal and senseless" attacks.

Nepalese officials have not said exactly what kind of assistance they are seeking from the US.

Around 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict

Mr Powell too did not offer any details of what type of aid his government was willing to offer the Himalayan kingdom.

However, reports suggest Kathmandu has asked for a number of attack helicopters equipped for night operations.

The military campaign against the rebels has proved costly in a number of ways.

Apart from the loss of lives and property, business earnings and tourism revenues have dropped significantly.

Correspondents believe the Nepalese officials could also be seeking economic aid and help with trade.

The foreign secretary will be taking similar messages to British and Russian officials during stop-overs in London and Moscow.