Maoists withdraw airport blockade plan

KANTIPUR REPORT

Following pressures from diplomatic officials and envoys, a meeting of the Maoist leaders this evening decided to withdraw the plan to picket the TIA.

KATHMANDU, NOV 03 - The agitating UCPN (Maoist) withdrew its plan to picket airport on Tuesday, softening its agitation programmes.

The Maoists had said that they would besiege the Tribhuvan International Airport in the capital on Wednesday as part of their second phase of agitation to press the government to fulfill its demands.

Following pressures from the foreign diplomats in Kathmandu, a meeting of the Maoist leaders this evening decided to withdraw the party's plan to picket the TIA, Maoist leader Shakti Bahadur Basnet said.

The senior Maoist leaders discussed the party's agitation and ongoing peace process with the diplomatic representatives and envoys of 12 foreign countries earlier today in the capital.

While unveiling its second phase of protest programmes last week, the UCPN (Maoist)—which has been agitating ever since it dislodged from the government under its leadership against the president's move reinstating the then army chief—had announced to completely block the TIA.