Nepal to ensure effective security for Tuesday's poll

Khilraj Regmi, chairman of Nepal's interim election government, has directed the country's four security agencies to ensure that the Constituent Assembly elections Tuesday are conducted in a free and fair manner, the government Monday said.

"The head of the government directed (the security agencies chiefs) to work round-the-clock for creating an environment where voters can vote without any fear," Xinhua reported citing an official statement.

In a meeting attended by the chiefs of Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Police, Regmi said that Nepal's security agencies were facing threats from the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, which is opposing the elections and is disturbing the atmosphere in the country.

He asked the security agencies to take stern action against those parties which are boycotting and obstructing the election process.

Nepal will hold its second Constituent Assembly elections Tuesday amid a strike by poll-opposing parties. The Constituent Assembly elected in 2008 was dissolved last year without it being able to deliver a new constitution.