King of Nepal arrives in India

(23 Jun 2002)

1. Wide shot Nepalese Royal plane taxiing
2. Close up Nepalese flag
3. Various of Indian officials
4. King and coming down from plane
5. King and queen meeting several Indian and Nepalese officials at airport
6. King and queen getting into car and leaving airport

STORYLINE:

Nepal's king arrived in neighbouring India on Sunday, where he was expected to meet with Indian leaders to discuss issues including help in battling Nepal's Maoist rebels.

This is the first foreign trip for the king, who took the throne after his brother, King Birendra, was gunned down by Crown Prince Dipendra on June 1, 2001. During a year of mourning, King Gyanendra did not travel abroad and made few public appearances.

King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Komal Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah will be in India June 23-28 at the invitation of Indian President Kocheril Raman Narayanan and his wife.

During their stay, the royal couple is scheduled to meet with the president, India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other leaders.

They are expected to discuss issues related to India's open and unfenced border with Nepal, activities of Pakistan-based terror groups that New Delhi says are operating out of Nepal, and Indian aid to help Nepal deal with Maoist rebels.

The rebels, who draw their inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, have been fighting since 1996 to topple Nepal's monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

Over 4,000 people have been killed. Fighting between the rebels and government forces has intensified since King Gyanendra declared emergency rule in November and ordered the army, for the first time, to fight the guerrillas.

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