Condolences pour for Koirala as Nepal mourns

Last Updated: Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 16:21

Tags: Nepal mourns, G P Koirala

Kathmandu: Condolences kept pouring on the demise of Nepal's towering leader Girija Prasad Koirala with the international community asking the country to speed up the stalled peace process to honour his legacy.

As Nepal mourned the loss of its leader, the US in its condolence message said the best way to honour Koirala's legacy is to accelerate the peace process and finalise the new constitution as quickly as possible.

Former US President Jimmy Carter described Koirala as a statesman who remained unwavering in his commitment to peace and democracy in Nepal.

Mourning Koirla's death, Japan termed it a great loss for the nation and said the leader had made historic contribution to the ongoing peace process and democracy in Nepal.

Tokyo said all political parties in Nepal should be united and accelerate the constitution drafting process.

Expressing sorrow, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said: "Nepali people have lost a true friend in the demise".

European Union said in a statement that Koirala was the main architect of the peace process which ended the decade-long insurgency.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she is deeply shocked and grieved by the demise of Koirala adding he was a great leader and a champion of democracy.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi in a message to Sujata Koirala termed the demise of her father as an irreparable damage. She also recalled the decade-old relationship between former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Koirala.

PTI

First Published: Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 16:21