US speaks out on (Nepal) election irregularity

[CornField]

I saw this and my first thought was "pot, meet kettle"

US slams Nepal vote as ‘hollow’ exercise

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02%5C11%5Cstory_11-2-2006_pg4_18

This report out Pakistan quotes US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack saying the Nepal polls were marred by the government’s detention of many political activists, restrictive media coverage, violence by Maoist rebels and a lack of monitors.

King Gyanendra, who sacked the government and seized absolute power a year ago with a promise to quell the Maoist insurgency that has claimed 12,500 lives, called the first local elections in seven years part of a “road map to democracy”.

The United States, which regards the Maoists as terrorists, together with Britain and India led international efforts to restore democracy in Nepal after the royal coup. While they suspended arms sales to Kathmandu, Washington and New Delhi reportedly still provide what they call “non-lethal military aid” to the country.

The European Union had criticised the elections as a backward step from democracy and said they were likely to further polarise positions.