Kathmandu, Nov. 27 -- Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has acknowledged that the voice heard in a video released by royalist activist Durga Prasai belongs to him.

Speaking before lawmakers in the National Assembly's Legislation Committee on Thursday, Minister Aryal confirmed his presence in the footage. "Regarding the video of September 9, as mentioned by the honorable member, one of the voices in that video is mine," Aryal said, "What I said in the video is not otherwise. I did not state that arson occurred or that there were casualties. I clearly said that such things should not happen. That was the purpose of my presence there."

Aryal added that he had requested others to help subside the tense situation. "I asked if this could preven...