IFJ president in Nepal

NEW DELHI, Feb 17 (UNI): International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) president Christopher Warren, who is on a four-day visit to Nepal, has sought a meeting with King Gyanendra to discuss the detention of journalists following the dismissal of government on February 1.

Warren, who will hold meetings with senior journalists in Kathmandu, has also sought permission to meet Bishnu Nisthuri, general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, who is being held in detention.

Warren, who heads the IFJ, which represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 100 countries worldwide, also plans to meet the Army chief, Information and Communications Minister Tanka Dhakal, Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi and Foreign Minister Rameshnath Pandey.

Meetings with ambassadors, senior diplomats and members of the international community are also on his itinerary.

IFJ promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice and promotes human rights, democracy and pluralism.