Monday, May 2 2005 13:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal Government today (May 2, 2005) freed two Communist Party leaders from house arrest but extended the detention of former Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel by another three months.

The Government withdrew security personnel last night (May 1, 2005) from the residence of CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was put under house arrest immediately after the February 1 power grab by King Gyanendra, the party sources said.

Nepal was put under house arrest along with Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, who was released a couple of weeks ago.

A CPN-UML Standing Committee member Bamdev Gautam was also freed from house arrest today, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the district administration office, Tanahun handed over a warrant to Poudel yesterday extending his custody by another three months.

Poudel was also arrested on February 1 and put under custody in Damauli prison under Public Security Act for three months.

Similarly, jail term of the ex-Minister and CPN-UML standing committee member Ishwor Pokharel, who is in detention in Saptari jail, was also extended by another three months.