Nepal digs out dollars for Chiese arms Kathmandu, Dec. 26. — After floating a global tender for buying arms and ammunition, Nepal’s army has just spent more than $800,000 on buying arms and ammunition from China. The money was paid to Beijing’s Poly Technologies Incorporated for 18,000 grenades and 4 million rounds of 7.62 mm rifle ammunition that reached Kathmandu in November. Though Nepal’s media had spotted the ammunition-laden trucks arriving in Kathmandu, the army had denied receiving any lethal supply. The transaction was confirmed by sources in Nepal Rastra Bank, the top bank in the country that drew up the letter of credit for the Royal Nepalese Army. The Chinese supplies came at a time Nepal’s official media has been accusing the Maoist insurgents of procuring arms from India under the guise of the cease-fire called by the rebels in September. With India and the USA, the main suppliers of arms to the Royal Nepalese Army, suspending aid after King Gyanendra’s power grab , the government has been scouting for fresh supplies. With the civic elections impending and the Maoists having announced they would try to disrupt the polls, the fresh stock would come in handy for the government. Nepal’s opposition parties have been urging arms donors to keep military aid to Nepal on hold, saying they fear it would be misused. On 15 December, an RNA soldier opened fire after a quarrel with villagers in Nagarkot, killing 11 civilians. A 7.62 mm bullet was found at the site. Extend truce: Koirala The seven-party alliance would ask Maoists to extend ceasefire only if the King created a conducive atmosphere by withdrawing the 8 February polls, Nepali Congress president Mr Girija Prasad Koirala has said. — Sudeshna Sarkar http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=8&theme=&usrsess=1&id=100757