NEW DELHI, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Nepal has rejected a United Nations appeal to keep voting booths for the Feb. 8 elections out of schools.
"Booths have been set up in many residential private schools, putting residents' security at risk. At least 25 residential schools will be turned into polling booths," said a statement from an association of parents and boarding schools.
The Indian Express newspaper said Monday Ian Martin, the U.N. High Commission's special representative to Nepal, UNICEF and the Nepal office of the U.N. had appealed to the government not to set up booths in schools in view of a Maoist threat during elections.
"The U.N. system in Nepal was going beyond its mandate, and the government was not going to heed their advice," said Ramesh Nath Pandey, Nepalese foreign minister.
King Gyanendra announced municipal elections to be held on Feb. 8 despite appeals from Nepalese political parties and the international community to restore democracy.
The king grabbed absolute power after suspending the government Feb. 1, 2005. He said that the government had failed to contain Maoist rebels who have long waged an armed struggle against the king.
Maoist violence has so far killed over 12,000 government employees and armed personnel.
A seven-party alliance has boycotted the elections, saying they are state organized.
