Kathmandu, Apr 23 : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has started talks with the diplomatic mission chiefs here over the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Rookmangad Katawal row.

Envoys from eight countries including the United States, United Kingdom, India, China and Japan are attending the meeting at the PM''s residence in Baluwatar today.

Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is also present.

Dahal has deferred action against General Katawal due to increasing international pressure.

Kathmandu- An indefinite general strike called by the ethnic Tharu community Wednesday paralysed normal life across the southern Nepalese Terai plains.

Protestors attacked vehicles and forced markets to shut down in over a dozen districts to impose the strike, polices said.

As a result, transport along the main highway linking eastern Nepal with the west and from Terai to the capital Kathmandu was interrupted, stranding thousands of passengers.

Kathmandu  - What is probably the world's highest-altitude cybercafe has opened near the Mount Everest base camp in north-eastern Nepal, reports said Wednesday.

The internet cafe, located at 5,180 metres above sea level at Gorakse in Khumjung district, about 200 kilometres north-east of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, is to provide internet access to tourists visiting the area, the Ekantipur website of Kantipur newspaper reported.

The area is popular with tourists on their way to the base camp of the world's highest peak, 8,848-metre Mount Everest.

Kathmandu- Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav was dragged into growing row between the Maoist-led government and the army chief who allegedly disobeyed orders, news reports said Wednesday.

The government supported a decision by the defence ministry, led by a Maoist politician, two days ago to seek clarification from army chief General Rukmangad Katuwal over allegations that he ignored government orders on recruitment and the sacking of eight senior army generals.

Katuwal was said to have provided an explanation within the 24-hour deadline given to him by the government.

Kathmandu - The opposition Nepali Congress disrupted a parliamentary session Tuesday in protest at the Maoist-led government's treatment of the head of the army.

The political division surfaced a day after the defence ministry headed by a Maoist politician accused army chief Rukmangad Katuwal of disobeying orders and demanded an explanation of his conduct.

The political division is now threatening the fragile coalition government and Nepal's two-and-half-year-old peace process, analysts say.

Kathmandu, Apr 21: Nepal Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that the Chief of Army Staff General Rookmangud Katawal could be sacked if he fails to furnish clarification on some serious issues.

Dr Bhattarai said that if General Katawal failed to defend himself against charges of "grossly" defying government orders, he would be relieved of his command.