Kathmandu, November 15:

The American ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty, met the general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist Madhav Kumar Nepal at the party’s headquarters in Balkhu today.

In what is being said as “friendly and frank” discussions, the envoy reiterated his country’s stance that it has nothing against the political parties holding dialogue with the Maoists with a view to convincing them in rejoining the political mainstream.

According to the US embassy spokesman in Kathmandu, Moriarty lent “strong support’ to the seven-party alliance’s assertion that it would not enter into an alliance with the Maoists unless and until they renounce violence, put down their weapons and commit to supporting the democratic process.

Moriarty also stressed the importance of the King reaching out to the political parties to work for a democratic and peaceful future in Nepal.

Recently, the US ambassador had expressed concern at the possibility of the parties getting into an alliance with the Maoists.

The parties have said they will not be joining hands with the Maoists, but are holding talks to bring them to the political mainstream.