U.S. envoy meets Nepal's Maoist former rebel chief

By Krittivas Mukherjee

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Nepal has met the country's Maoist former rebel chief, the first official meeting of a senior American official with a group that Washington still labels terrorists.

A U.S. embassy statement issued on Friday said Ambassador Nancy Powell met Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known by his nom de guerre Prachanda, on Thursday to discuss the outcome of the April 10 election in which the Maoists emerged as the largest party.

The victory of the Maoists, who gave up an armed revolt in 2006 with a peace deal that ended a decade-long civil war, put the United States in a tight spot as it would now have to do business with the party likely to form the new government.

The Maoists have abandoned many of their leftist policies, such as nationalisation, to embrace foreign investment and public-private partnerships. Their victory could lead to a focus on improving living conditions in South Asia's poorest country.

The statement said the two also discussed the Maoist party's plans for the Constituent Assembly, which will write Nepal's new constitution, and the future of U.S.-Nepal relations.

"The meeting occurred in advance of Powell's return to the United States for consultations on U.S.-Nepal relations," it said.

"Powell provided an overview of current U.S. government assistance to Nepal designed to help create a more prosperous, democratic and stable Nepal."

A Maoist politburo member told Reuters the meeting was an indication Washington wanted to mend fences now that they had won the election.