Kathmandu, Jan. 1 -- The government has tried to assure the political parties that the inmates who fled several prisons and the weapons looted during the early September unrest will not be allowed to affect the March 5 polls.

Leaders from major political parties, during their meetings with the prime minister and also in public forums, have raised the issue of fleeing inmates and looted weapons as the most serious threat to the upcoming parliamentary polls.

They have accused the government of failing to create an environment conducive to the elections citing the same threat.

Leaders say many of the weapons looted from Kathmandu and outside during the September 9 unrest have yet to be brought back under the control of security agencies....