KATHMANDU: The Press Council Nepal on Thursday directed the ABC Television to apologise over an interview with CK Raut, which the PCN said hurt the sovereignty of the country.

The interview had been aired in the 'ABC Watch' programme of the Television on March 30 this year.

A meeting of the Ethics Monitoring Sub-Committee of the Council asked the ABC Television to apologise to the Nepalis for the interview with the controversial Madhesi leader.

The Council had sought clarifications from the Television, saying geographical integrity and social harmony were disrupted and the journalistic code of conduct was seriously violated by the interview.

In response, the ABC Television had said, "It is the individual who is making the remark that is responsible for the same; and that the interview of CK Raut had been aired following the natural process of incorporating the views of the Nepali people."

The Council, however, decided that the clarification was not satisfactory.