Chinese arms 'supplied to Nepal'

China has supplied Nepal with five armoured personnel carriers, according to a report in a Nepali newspaper.

The Himalayan Times said the vehicles had arrived in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, on Thursday.

India, Britain and the United States halted arms supplies after King Gyanendra suspended parliament and assumed absolute power in February.

Last month, India announced it would resume military assistance but supplies have not yet begun.

Its decision followed the lifting of Nepal's state of emergency.

Rights group's plea

Nepal's government has not yet commented on the personnel carrier report.

Earlier this week the human rights organisation, Amnesty International, urged the world community not to supply military assistance to Nepal.

It said both government security forces and the nation's Maoist rebels extensively violated human rights.